Gliomas

Abstract

Many advances have been made in evaluating the molecular genetics of gliomas. For example, the presence of 1p and 19q deletions is associated with gliomas of oligodendroglial lineage, with oligodendrogliomas that have a better survival, and with oligodendrogliomas that respond to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While prospective data are needed to confirm these associations, 1p and 19q deletion testing has become a part of routine neurooncology practice. Alterations of chromosome 10, EGFR, PTEN, IDH1, MGMT, ATRX, and TP53 are associated with different grades of astrocytic gliomas and with patient survival. While their clinical utility requires further investigation, these markers (and others) will be increasingly used to stratify patients to current and new therapeutic approaches. In the future, it is likely that the survival rate of primary gliomas will be lengthened using molecularly targeted therapies.