Molecular Characterization of IDH Wild-type Diffuse Astrocytomas: The Potential of cIMPACT-NOW Guidelines

IDH wild-type (wt) grade 2/3 astrocytomas are a heterogenous group of tumors with disparate clinical and molecular profiles. cIMPACT-NOW recommendations incorporated in the new 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors urge minimal molecular criteria to identify a subset that has an aggressive clinical course similar to IDH-wt glioblastomas (GBMs). This paper describes the use of a panel of molecular markers to reclassify IDH-wt grade 2/3 diffuse astrocytic gliomas (DAGs) and study median overall survival concerning for to IDH-wt GBMs in the Indian cohort. IDH-wt astrocytic gliomas (grades 2, 3, and 4) confirmed by IDHR132H immunohistochemistry and IDH1/2 gene sequencing, 1p/19q non-codeleted with no H3F3A mutations were included. TERT promoter mutation by Sanger sequencing, epidermal growth factor receptor amplification, and whole chromosome 7 gain and chromosome 10 loss by fluorescence in situ hybridization was assessed and findings correlated with clinical and demographic profiles. The molecular profile of 53 IDH-wt DAGs (grade 2: 31, grade 3: 22) was analyzed. Eleven cases (grade 2: 8, grade 3: 3) (20.75%) were reclassified as IDH-wt GBMs, WHO grade 4 (TERT promoter mutation in 17%, epidermal growth factor receptor amplification in 5.5%, and whole chromosome 7 gain and chromosome 10 loss in 2%). Molecular GBMs were predominantly frontal (54.5%) with a mean age of 36 years and median overall survival equivalent to IDH-wt GBMs (18 vs. 19 mo; P=0.235). Among grade 2/3 DAGs not harboring these alterations, significantly better survival was observed for grade 2 versus grade 3 DAGs (25 vs. 16 mo; P=0.002). Through the incorporation of a panel of molecular markers, a subset of IDH-wt grade 2 DAGs can be stratified into molecular grade 4 tumors with prognostic and therapeutic implications. However, IDH-wt grade 3 DAGs behave like GBMs irrespective of molecular profile.

Automated summary

IDH wild-type (wt) grade 2/3 astrocytomas are a heterogenous group of tumors with disparate clinical and molecular profiles. The use of molecular markers can help reclassify these tumors and predict patient survival.