F.1 DNA methylome profiling identifies stability of IDH mutations throughout glioma evolution

Abstract

Background: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status is a key diagnostic and prognostic feature of gliomas. There are conflicting reports regarding the stability of IDH mutations throughout glioma evolution and treatment. Here, we provide an institutional experience of patients with conflicting IDH mutation status longitudinally in order to determine if IDH mutation status changes over time. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients from 2009-2018 with immunohistochemistry (IHC)-recorded IDH mutation status discrepancies longitudinally. Archived frozen tissue samples were analyzed using methylation profiling, Sanger sequencing, and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Results were compared to the IHC-reported IDH mutation status. Results: We reviewed 1491 archived glioma samples including 91 patients with multiple tumour samples collected longitudinally. In all instances of IDH mutation discrepancy, we found reasonable explanations through multi-platform profiling that resolved the discrepancies. This included the presence of non-canonical IDH2 mutations identified through Sanger sequencing and perilesional tumour samples or reactive brain tissue identified through methylation profiling. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that IDH mutations occur early in gliomagenesis and are stable throughout glioma treatment and evolution. Our study highlights the importance of accurate surgical sampling and the role of DNA methylome profiling in diagnostically uncertain cases for integrated pathological and molecular diagnosis.