The clinical significance of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations, telomere length and O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status in newly diagnosed and recurrent IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) patients (PTS): A large mono-institutional study.

Abstract

2053 Background: the clinical significance of TERT promoter mutations, telomere length and their interactions with MGMT promoter methylation status in patients with IDH-wildtype GBM patients remain unclear. We performed a large mono-institutional study to better investigate their impact and their interaction on clinical outcomes Methods: TERT promoter mutations (C228T and C250T), relative telomere length (RTL) and MGMT methylation status were assessed in 278 newly diagnosed and in 65 recurrent IDH-wildtype GBM PTS which were treated at Veneto Institute of Oncology (Padua, Italy) from Dec 2016 to Jan 2020. We have retrospectively explored association between gene characteristics and neuroradiological response (RANO criteria), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS). Telomere length was measured by monochrome multiplex PCR and RTL values were calculated as a telomere/single-copy gene ratio Results: characteristics of newly diagnosed GBM PTS were: median age 63 ys, ECOG PS 0-1 in 71% of PTS, radical surgery in 38%, 78% received radiation therapy plus TMZ, MGMT was methylated in 53%, TERT promoter was mutated in 80% (75% C228T, 25% C250T), median RTL was 1.57 (range 0.4-11.37). Objective response rate was reported in 15% of PTS, median OS was 15ms (95% CI 13-18ms), median PFS was 8ms (95% CI 7-9ms). At multivariable analysis, TERT promoter mutations and RTL were not associated with clinical outcomes; about OS, TERT promoter mutations and RTL reported a HR of 1.05 (95% CI 0.64-1.64) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.89-1.10), respectively; MGMT methylated tumors showed significant improved PFS and OS with a HR of 0.54 (95% CI 0.40-0.71) and 0.47 (95% CI 0.34-0.64), respectively. All interactions among MGMT status, TERT mutation status and RTL were not statistically significant. Characteristics of recurrent GBM PTS were: median age 55 ys, ECOG PS 0-1 in 60% of PTS, MGMTmet in 37%, TERT promoter mutations in 75% (75% C228T, 25% C250T), RTL was 1.67 (range 0.68-8.87). At multivariable analysis, only MGMT methylated tumors resulted significantly associated to prolonged OS (HR 0.16; 95% CI 0.07-0.40). No gene interaction was significant. Conclusions: for the first time worldwide, we analyzed the impact of TERT promoter mutations, RTL and MGMT methylation status in both newly diagnosed and recurrent IDH-wildtype GBM PTS. TERT promoter status and RTL were not associated with clinical outcomes at both diagnosis and relapse. MGMT promoter methylation status was the only prognostic factor in both cases. No significant interaction was demonstrated between TERT promoter mutations, RTL and MGMT methylation status.