Clonal Evolution of a High-Grade Pediatric Glioma With Distant Metastatic Spread

Objective High-grade glioma (HGG) rarely spreads outside the CNS. To test the hypothesis that the lesions were metastases originating from an HGG, we sequenced the relapsing HGG and distant extraneural lesions. Methods We performed whole-exome sequencing of an HGG lesion, its local relapse, and distant lesions in bone and lymph nodes. Results Phylogenetic reconstruction and histopathologic analysis confirmed the common glioma origin of the secondary lesions. The mutational profile revealed an IDH1/2 wild-type HGG with an activating mutation in EGFR and biallelic focal loss of CDKN2A (9p21). In the metastatic samples and the local relapse, we found an activating PIK3CA mutation, further copy number gains in chromosome 7 (EGFR), and a putative pathogenic driver mutation in a canonical splice site of FLNA. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate tumor spread outside the CNS and identify potential genetic drivers of metastatic dissemination outside the CNS, which could be leveraged as therapeutic targets or potential biomarkers.

Automated summary

Whole-exome sequencing of HGG lesions and distant extraneural lesions confirmed a common glioma origin and identified potential genetic drivers of metastatic dissemination outside the CNS, providing potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers.