Originally published as JCO Early Release 10.1200/JCO.2006.05.9238 on September 11 2006

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Loss of Heterozygosity 1p36 and 19q13 Is a Prognostic Factor for Overall Survival in Patients With Diffuse WHO Grade 2 Gliomas Treated Without Chemotherapy

Luigi Mariani, Gianluca Deiana, Erik Vassella, Ali-Reza Fathi, Christine Murtin, Marlène Arnold, Istvan Vajtai, Joachim Weis, Peter Siegenthaler, Martina Schobesberger, Michael M. Reinert

From the Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital; Division of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany

Address reprint requests to Luigi Mariani, MD, Leitender Arzt und Chefarzt-Stv., Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsspital Inselspital, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland; e-mail: luigi.mariani{at}insel.ch

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to elucidate the impact of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for chromosomes 1p36 and 19q13 on the overall survival of patients with diffusely infiltrating WHO grade 2 gliomas treated without chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed the LOH status of tumors from patients harboring WHO grade 2 gliomas diagnosed between 1991 and 2000. Patients were either followed after initial biopsy or treated by surgery and/or radiation therapy (RT). Overall survival, time to malignant transformation, and progression-free survival were last updated as of March 2005.

RESULTS: Of a total of 79 patients, LOH 1p36 and LOH 19q13 could be assessed in 67 and 66 patients, respectively. The median follow-up after diagnosis was 6 years. Loss of either 1p or 19q, in particular codeletion(s) at both loci, was found to positively impact on both overall survival (log-rank P < .01), progression-free survival, and survival without malignant transformation (P < .05). Tumor volume (P < .0001), neurologic deficits at diagnosis (P < .01), involvement of more than one lobe (P < .01), and absence of an oligodendroglial component (P < .05) were also predictors of shorter overall survival. The extent of surgery was similar in patients with or without LOH 1p and/or 19q; RT was more frequently resorted to for patients without than for patients with LOH 1p/19q (30% v 60%).

CONCLUSION: The presence of LOH on either 1p36 or 19q13, and in particular codeletion of both loci is a strong, nontreatment-related, prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with diffusely infiltrating WHO grade 2 gliomas.

published online ahead of print at www.jco.org on September 11, 2006.

Terms in blue are defined in the glossary, found at the end of this article and online at www.jco.org.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

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