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Methylation of O⁶-Methylguanine DNA Methyltransferase and Loss of Heterozygosity on 19q and/or 17p Are Overlapping Features of Secondary Glioblastomas with Prolonged Survival

Authors' Affiliations: ¹ Unit of Clinical Neuro-Oncology, ² Unit of Experimental Neuro-Oncology, ³ Unit of Neuroradiology, ⁴ Unit of Neuropathology, ⁵ Unit of Neuro-Epidemiology, and ⁶ Department of Neurosurgery, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Besta, Milan, Italy

Requests for reprints: Gaetano Finocchiaro, Unit of Experimental Neuro-Oncology, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Istituto Neurologico Besta, via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy. Phone: 39-2-2394-2454; Fax: 39-2-2668-1688; E-mail: finocchiaro{at}istituto-besta.it

Purpose: Recent data suggest that methylation of the DNA repair gene O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), by increasing the chemosensitivity of glioblastoma multiforme, is significantly associated with improved prognosis. Results in contradiction with these findings, however, are present in the literature and the clinical and genetic context framing MGMT methylation is poorly characterized.

Experimental Design: To address these issues, we have investigated the MGMT methylation status, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, and relevant genetic features (loss of heterozygosity on 17p and 19q, EGFR amplification, and p53 mutations) in a retrospective study on 86 patients affected by glioblastoma multiforme: 72 patients had a clinical history indicating de novo insurgence of the tumor and the remaining 14 were secondary glioblastoma multiforme.

Results: MGMT methylation was detected by methylation-specific PCR in 41 of 86 cases (47.7%; Meth+). Progression-free survival and overall survival were significantly longer in Meth+ than in Meth– patients [10 versus 7 months (P = 0.003, log-rank test) and 18 versus 14 months (P = 0.0003, log-rank test), respectively]. Mixed-nodular enhancement at magnetic resonance imaging was significantly more frequent in Meth+ and secondary glioblastoma multiforme and ring enhancement in Meth– and primary glioblastoma multiforme (P < 0.005). MGMT methylation was more present in secondary glioblastoma multiforme (P = 0.006) and associated with loss of heterozygosity on 17p and/or 19q (P = 0.005).

Conclusions: These observations suggest that MGMT methylation is part of a genetic signature of glioblastomas that developed from lower-grade gliomas.