A clinicopathologic study of diencephalic pediatric low-grade gliomas with BRAF V600 mutation

Cheng Ying Ho, Bret C. Mobley, Heather Gordish-Dressman, Christopher J. VandenBussche, Gary E. Mason, Miriam Bornhorst, Adam J. Esbenshade, Mahtab Tehrani, Brent A. Orr, Delecia R. LaFrance, Joseph M. Devaney, Beatrix W. Meltzer, Sean E. Hofherr, Peter C. Burger, Roger J. Packer, Fausto J Rodriguez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Among brain tumors, the BRAFV600E mutation is frequently associated with pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (PXAs) and gangliogliomas (GGs). This oncogenic mutation is also detected in ~5 % of other pediatric low-grade gliomas (LGGs) including pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) and diffuse astrocytomas. In the current multi-institutional study of 56 non-PXA/non-GG diencephalic pediatric LGGs, the BRAFV600 mutation rate is 36 %. V600-mutant tumors demonstrate a predilection for infants and young children (<age 3) and have a higher tendency for multicentricity. On neuroimaging, BRAFV600-mutant tumors appear as nodular, yet infiltrative contrast-enhancing masses. Morphologic examination reveals a monophasic, predominantly compact and partially infiltrative architecture. Due to the lack of classic morphologic features associated with PAs, pilomyxoid astrocytomas (PMAs), or diffuse astrocytomas, 75 % of the BRAFV600-mutant tumors could not be definitively classified on initial histopathologic evaluation. At a median follow-up of 55 months, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate for BRAFV600-mutant diencephalic low-grade astrocytomas (LGAs) was 22 ± 12 %, shorter than BRAFV600-WT PAs (52 ± 13 %) but higher than PMAs (10 ± 6 %). Of note, long-term PFS was observed in several adolescent patients with BRAFV600-mutant tumors. In children aged 0–12 years, 5-year PFS rate and median PFS in BRAFV600-mutant LGAs are 9 ± 9 % and 19 months (95 % CI 3–37 months), respectively. The PFS is comparable to that in BRAFV600-WT PMAs (5-year PFS rate: 10 ± 9 %; median PFS: 15 months, 95 % CI 3–32 months; p = 0.96) and significantly shorter than BRAFV600-WT PAs (5-year PFS rate: 46 ± 13 %; median PFS: 51 months, 95 % CI 20–∞ months; p < 0.05). In summary, diencephalic BRAFV600-mutant pediatric LGAs are associated with unique clinicopathologic features and have a more aggressive clinical course, especially in children under age 13. The low rate of CDKN2A deletion also suggests that these tumors are molecularly distinct from secondary pediatric high-grade gliomas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)575-585
Number of pages11
JournalActa neuropathologica
Volume130
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 26 2015

Keywords

  • BRAF
  • Diencephalic
  • Hypothalamic
  • Low-grade glioma
  • Pilocytic astrocytoma
  • Pilomyxoid astrocytoma
  • V600E

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A clinicopathologic study of diencephalic pediatric low-grade gliomas with BRAF V600 mutation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this