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  • Updated 04.02.2024
  • Released 10.24.2021
  • Expires For CME 04.02.2027

Pediatric and adult histone altered tumors

Introduction

Overview

Pediatric and adult diffuse gliomas harboring histone alterations potentially comprise a variety of subtypes of gliomas. A subgroup of diffuse midline gliomas harboring the H3 K27M mutation was previously classified as brainstem gliomas or diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. The proposed cell of origin for these tumors is the neural precursor-like cell in the ventral pons expressing nestin and OLIG-2 (30). There are other high-grade tumors baring the same, as well as other, histone alterations. The majority of these involve the brainstem, thalamus, and spinal cord (28). Patient age and specific histone alterations are associated with neuroanatomic location.

In the 2007 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma was not defined as a separate entity. It was classified and graded according to the definition criteria of supratentorial diffuse gliomas (29). The 2016 WHO classification of CNS tumors identified H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma as a unique entity with distinct clinical behavior and molecular features. This CNS tumor is a diffuse (infiltrating) glioma with predominantly astrocytic differentiation and a K27M mutation in either the H3F3A or HIST1H3B/C genes (30). The 2021 WHO classification of CNS tumors further modified the classification of gliomas (31). Adult and pediatric gliomas were independently categorized. Pediatric diffuse gliomas were then separated into prognostically and biologically distinct groups (pediatric high- and low-grade glioma). High-grade pediatric gliomas were further classified into biologically distinct groups, largely based on alteration in the histone genes (Table 1). The histone-altered tumors were placed into two categories (diffuse midline glioma H3 K27-altered, diffuse hemispheric glioma H3 G34-mutant) in the Pediatric-type diffuse high-grade glioma group, although they occur in adults as well.

Table 1. 2021 WHO Classification of Pediatric Diffuse High-Grade Glioma and Key Diagnostic Genes, Molecules, Pathways, or Combinations

Pediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas

Genes/Molecular Profiles Characteristically Altered

Diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27 altered

H3 K27, TP53, ACVR1, PDGFRA, EGFR, EZHIP overexpression

Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant

H3 G34, TP53, ATRX

Diffuse pediatric-type high-grade glioma, H3-wildtype and IDH-wildtype

IDH-wildtype, H3-wildtype, PDGFRA, MYCN, EGFR (methylome)*

Infant-type hemispheric glioma

NTRK family, ALK, ROS, MET


Abbreviations: WHO, World Health Organization; IDH, isocitrate dehydrogenase; ATRX, alpha thalassemia or mental retardation syndrome X-linked; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; PDGFRA, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha; TP53, tumor protein p53; ACVR1, activin a receptor type 1; EZHIP, EZH inhibitory protein; ALK, anaplastic lymphoma kinase; NTRK, neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusion.

* methylome testing offers particular diagnostic guidance

From: (31)

Key points

• Pediatric diffuse gliomas are separated into prognostically and biologically distinct groups.

• High-grade pediatric gliomas were further classified into biologically distinct groups, largely based on alteration in the histone genes.

• Tumors with these histone aberrancies occur in adults as well and have some unique features in that patient population

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