Actionable Molecular Biomarkers in Primary Brain Tumors

Recent genome-wide studies of malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS) have revolutionized our understanding of the biology of these tumors. This newly gained knowledge provides a wealth of opportunity for biomarker-driven clinical research. To date, however, only few of the available molecular markers truly influence clinical decision-making and treatment. The most widely validated markers in neuro-oncology presently are: (i) MGMT promoter methylation as a prognostic and predictive marker in glioblastoma; (ii) codeletion of 1p and 19q differentiating oligodendrogliomas from astrocytomas; (iii) IDH1/2 mutations; and (iv) select pathway-associated mutations. This article focuses on currently impactful biomarkers in adult and pediatric brain cancers and it provides a perspective on the direction of research in this field.