Clinical Neuropathology practice news 1-2014: pyrosequencing meets clinical and analytical performance criteria for routine testing of MGMT promoter methylation status in glioblastoma

Clin Neuropathol. 2014 Jan-Feb;33(1):6-14. doi: 10.5414/np300730.

Abstract

Testing of the MGMT promoter methylation status in glioblastoma is relevant for clinical decision making and research applications. Two recent and independent phase III therapy trials confirmed a prognostic and predictive value of the MGMT promoter methylation status in elderly glioblastoma patients. Several methods for MGMT promoter methylation testing have been proposed, but seem to be of limited test reliability. Therefore, and also due to feasibility reasons, translation of MGMT methylation testing into routine use has been protracted so far. Pyrosequencing after prior DNA bisulfite modification has emerged as a reliable, accurate, fast and easy-to-use method for MGMT promoter methylation testing in tumor tissues (including formalin fixed and paraffin-embedded samples). We performed an intra- and inter-laboratory ring trial which demonstrates a high analytical performance of this technique. Thus, pyrosequencing- based assessment of MGMT promoter methylation status in glioblastoma meets the criteria of high analytical test performance and can be recommended for clinical application, provided that strict quality control is performed. Our article summarizes clinical indications, practical instructions and open issues for MGMT promoter methylation testing in glioblastoma using pyrosequencing.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA Modification Methylases / metabolism*
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Diphosphates
  • Glioblastoma / diagnosis*
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods*
  • Sulfites
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Diphosphates
  • Sulfites
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • diphosphoric acid
  • DNA Modification Methylases
  • MGMT protein, human
  • DNA Repair Enzymes
  • hydrogen sulfite