Molecular, histologic, and clinical characterization of methylation class pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: An analysis of 469 tumors.

BACKGROUND

Methylation class pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (mcPXA) comprises tumors with the DNA methylation signature of classical PXA but with a wider histologic spectrum, including overlap with glioblastoma (GBM).

METHODS

To clarify the histologic and molecular scope of mcPXA and characterize its clinical behavior, a cohort of 469 tumor samples from 458 patients matching to mcPXA by the DKFZ classifier (v12.6 score ≥0.85) was interrogated.

RESULTS

Patient median age was 23 years (range 1-73 years) with a female predominance (259 female/199 male). homozygous deletion was observed in 406 of 469 (87%) samples. In samples tested for p.V600E mutations ( = 279), 240 (86%) harbored the mutation. A chr7+/chr10- pattern was observed in 103 of 469 (22%) samples. Among samples tested for promoter mutations ( = 143), 32 (22%) harbored the mutation. Progression-free and overall survival of patients with mcPXA were comparable to patients with methylation class IDH-mutant astrocytoma, low grade, but a GBM-like subset (ie, cases with a pre-methylation working diagnosis of GBM) showed shorter survival. Histologic features of high grade, including palisading necrosis and microvascular proliferation, were prognostic in mcPXA. Compared to patients with p.V600E-altered GBM, patients with mcPXA were younger and had a lower frequency of promoter mutations.

CONCLUSION

Tumors in mcPXA share molecular characteristics with histologically defined PXA, and high-grade histologic features can help predict their clinical behavior. The use of an epigenetic classification of PXA reveals that this group of tumors is more common than previously appreciated and warrants in-depth study to identify efficacious therapeutic options.