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MGMT promoter methylation level in newly diagnosed low-grade glioma is a predictor of hypermutation at recurrence

Authors :
Michael Zhang
Annette M. Molinaro
Radhika Mathur
Susan M. Chang
Kevin Petrecca
Yalan Zhang
Saumya R. Bollam
Matthew R. Grimmer
Chibo Hong
Joanna J. Phillips
Nancy Ann Oberheim-Bush
Mitchel S. Berger
Joseph F. Costello
Jennifer Clarke
Source :
Neuro Oncol, Neuro-oncology, vol 22, iss 11
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Background Emerging data suggest that a subset of patients with diffuse isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant low-grade glioma (LGG) who receive adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) recur with hypermutation in association with malignant progression to higher-grade tumors. It is currently unclear why some TMZ-treated LGG patients recur with hypermutation while others do not. MGMT encodes O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, a DNA repair protein that removes cytotoxic and potentially mutagenic lesions induced by TMZ. Here, we hypothesize that epigenetic silencing of MGMT by promoter methylation facilitates TMZ-induced mutagenesis in LGG patients and contributes to development of hypermutation at recurrence. Methods We utilize a quantitative deep sequencing assay to characterize MGMT promoter methylation in 109 surgical tissue specimens from initial tumors and post-treatment recurrences of 37 TMZ-treated LGG patients. We utilize methylation arrays to validate our sequencing assay, RNA sequencing to assess the relationship between methylation and gene expression, and exome sequencing to determine hypermutation status. Results Methylation level at the MGMT promoter is significantly higher in initial tumors of patients that develop hypermutation at recurrence relative to initial tumors of patients that do not (45.7% vs 34.8%, P = 0.027). Methylation level in initial tumors can predict hypermutation at recurrence in univariate models and multivariate models that incorporate patient age and molecular subtype. Conclusions These findings reveal a mechanistic basis for observed differences in patient susceptibility to TMZ-driven hypermutation. Furthermore, they establish MGMT promoter methylation level as a potential biomarker to inform clinical management of LGG patients, including monitoring and treatment decisions, by predicting risk of hypermutation at recurrence.

Details

ISSN :
15235866
Volume :
22
Issue :
11
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Neuro-oncology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....adfe69826e351cf67c69d6c9f490113c