IDH1 mutations in diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas: grade specificity, association with protein expression, and clinical relevance

Am J Clin Pathol. 2012 Aug;138(2):177-84. doi: 10.1309/AJCPZOIY3WY4KIKE.

Abstract

IDH1 mutations are frequent genetic alterations in low-grade diffuse gliomas and secondary glioblastoma (GBM). To validate mutation frequency, IDH1 gene at codon 132 was sequenced in 74 diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas: diffuse astrocytoma (DA; World Health Organization [WHO] grade II), anaplastic astrocytoma (AA; WHO grade III), and GBM (WHO grade IV). All cases were immunostained with IDH1-R132H monoclonal antibody. Mutational status was correlated with mutant protein expression, patient age, duration of symptoms, and prognosis of patients with GBM. We detected 31 (41.9%) heterozygous IDH1 mutations resulting in arginine-to-histidine substitution (R132H;CGT-CAT). All 12 DAs (100%), 13 of 14 AAs (92.9%), and 6 of 48 GBMs (12.5%) (5/6 [83.3%] secondary, and 1/42 [2.4%] primary) harbored IDH1 mutations. The correlation between mutational status and protein expression was significant (P < . 001). IDH1 mutation status, though not associated with prognosis of patients with GBM, showed significant association with younger age and longer duration of symptoms in the whole cohort (P < .001). Our study validates IDH1 mutant protein expression across various grades of astrocytoma, and demonstrates a high incidence of IDH1 mutations in DA, AA, and secondary GBM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution*
  • Astrocytoma / genetics*
  • Astrocytoma / mortality
  • Astrocytoma / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase
  • IDH1 protein, human