[Impact of NGS results on patient outcome with a multiform glioblastoma]

PURPOSE

Although some genetic alterations in glioblastoma (GBM) have been characterized, the prognostic value of these gene mutations is not yet established in patients treated with standard therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

40 patients with newly diagnosed GBM, treated between July 2017 and December 2019, and who had genomic analysis were analyzed. Next-generation sequencing techniques (NGS) were used with a panel of 26 genes. Patients were grouped according to MGMT status, the presence or absence of at least one mutated gene on the panel, and p53 expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

the median follow-up was 11.5 months (1.0-37). For all patients, the median duration of progression-free survival was 8 months (95% CI, 5.3-10.7) and the median overall survival (OS) was 17 months (95% CI, 7.5-26.5). Progression-free and overall survival were significantly different according to MGMT status but not according to NGS and p53 status. Three groups of patients according to different combined status could be distinguished due to significant differences in overall survival.

CONCLUSION

we have shown that the presence of MGMT promoter methylation is a good prognostic factor. By grouping the patients according to their MGMT, NGS and p53 status, three groups of patients could be separated according to their overall survival. However, these results must be confirmed on a larger number of patients.

Modification of topoisomerase genes copy number in newly diagnosed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Topoisomerase genes were analyzed at both DNA and RNA levels in 25 cases of newly diagnosed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The results of molecular analysis were compared to risk group classification of children in order to identify molecular characteristics associated with response to therapy. At diagnosis, allelic imbalance at topo-isomerase IIalpha (TOP2A) gene locus was found in 75% of informative cases whereas topoisomerase I and IIbeta gene loci are altered in none or only one case, respectively. By semi-quantitative Polymerase chain reaction, we found a 2.5 to 8-fold TOP2A gene amplification in 72% of the children, which was correlated to gene overexpression in every case. These results show that TOP2A gene amplification is a frequent event in ALL at diagnosis. Interestingly, we also identified a small population of children that do not present TOP2A gene amplification or gene overexpression and who are significantly associated with very high risk classified patients showing glucocorticoid resistance. In conclusion, characterization of TOP2A gene status in childhood ALL at diagnosis provides useful complementary information for risk assessment.