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Molecular pathology & classification

Session: Poster Session

PATH-33 - Morphology, molecular features, and clinical behavior of methylation class pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma

Friday, November 17, 2023
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM PT
Location: Exhibit Hall A/B
Non-CME
Methylation profiling has revealed unexpected relationships between traditional histopathology-based versus biologically-based classifications of brain tumors. Methylation class pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (mcPXA) comprises tumors with the same methylation signature as classical PXA but with additional morphologic patterns, including overlap with glioblastoma (GBM). To characterize mcPXA, we examined epidemiologic, histologic, and molecular features as well as clinical behavior of a cohort (n=313) of tumors matching to mcPXA by the DKFZ classifier (v12 score >= 0.85). Patient median age was 19 (range 1-73) with a female predominance (178 female/135 male). CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion was observed in 273 (87%) cases. In the subset of cases tested for BRAF p.V600E (n=120), 111 (93%) harbored the mutation. Concomitant chr7+/chr10- was observed in 66 (21%) cases. In the subset of cases tested for TERT promoter mutations (n=50), 11 (22%) harbored the mutation, always with co-occurrence of BRAF p.V600E (11/11) and infrequently with chr7+/chr10- (3/11). MGMT promoter methylation was observed in 40 (13%) cases. Overall and progression-free survival (OS, PFS) in mcPXA were similar to grade 2-3 IDH-mutant astrocytoma (A-IDH). Prognostic factors in mcPXA included GBM-like histopathology (defined as cases diagnosed as GBM prior to methylation profiling), concomitant chr7+/chr10-, and MGMT promoter methylation. GBM-like histopathology was associated with shorter OS (p=0.02) and PFS (p < 0.01) compared to cases without GBM-like histopathology. Concomitant chr7+/chr10- was associated with shorter PFS (p=0.02), and MGMT promoter methylation was associated with shorter OS (p=0.03). Our findings demonstrate that mcPXA tumors affect adolescents and young adults, share molecular features of classical PXA, and manifest clinical behavior similar to classical PXA, but subsets of tumors with atypical features (chr7+/chr10-, MGMT promoter methylation, and/or GBM-like histopathology) are more aggressive. The use of a molecular definition of PXA reveals that this tumor type is more common than previously appreciated and warrants in-depth study for therapeutic options.