TY - JOUR
T1 - BRAF duplications and MAPK pathway activation are frequent in gliomas of the optic nerve proper
AU - Rodriguez, Fausto J.
AU - Ligon, Azra H.
AU - Horkayne-Szakaly, Iren
AU - Rushing, Elisabeth J.
AU - Ligon, Keith L.
AU - Vena, Natalie
AU - Garcia, Denise I.
AU - Cameron, J. Douglas
AU - Eberhart, Charles G.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Optic pathway gliomas represent a specific subtype of astrocytoma with unique clinicopathologic and biologic properties, but studies of tumors in the optic nerve proper have been hampered by limited tissue availability. We analyzed optic nerve gliomas of 59 patients (median age, 9 years; range, 3 months-66 years; 33 female, 26 male) using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material in tissue microarrays. Seven patients had the clinical diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies were performed for BRAF, PTEN, CDKN2A (p16), and NF1. Immunohistochemistry was performed for glial fibrillary acidic protein, phospho-ERK, and mutant IDH1 R132H protein. The BRAF duplication was present in 11 (73%) of 15 evaluable tumors, including 1 NF1 patient (1 of 4 tested; 25%). The single tumor lacking BRAF duplication or NF1 association had histologic features of a ganglioglioma. Conversely, heterozygous PTEN deletions were present in 2 (8%) of 25 evaluable cases, one of which was BRAF duplicated and the other was NF1 associated. CDKN2A and NF1 deletions were absent in all tumors tested. Phospho-ERK immunoreactivity was present in 55 (96%) of 57 tumors and was mostly strong and diffuse (80%). Only 1 case of 53 expressed IDH1. Thus, optic nerve gliomas demonstrated molecular alterations typical of pilocytic astrocytomas, including the universal presence of either BRAF duplication or NF1 association and common mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation but very rare mutant IDH1 expression.
AB - Optic pathway gliomas represent a specific subtype of astrocytoma with unique clinicopathologic and biologic properties, but studies of tumors in the optic nerve proper have been hampered by limited tissue availability. We analyzed optic nerve gliomas of 59 patients (median age, 9 years; range, 3 months-66 years; 33 female, 26 male) using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material in tissue microarrays. Seven patients had the clinical diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies were performed for BRAF, PTEN, CDKN2A (p16), and NF1. Immunohistochemistry was performed for glial fibrillary acidic protein, phospho-ERK, and mutant IDH1 R132H protein. The BRAF duplication was present in 11 (73%) of 15 evaluable tumors, including 1 NF1 patient (1 of 4 tested; 25%). The single tumor lacking BRAF duplication or NF1 association had histologic features of a ganglioglioma. Conversely, heterozygous PTEN deletions were present in 2 (8%) of 25 evaluable cases, one of which was BRAF duplicated and the other was NF1 associated. CDKN2A and NF1 deletions were absent in all tumors tested. Phospho-ERK immunoreactivity was present in 55 (96%) of 57 tumors and was mostly strong and diffuse (80%). Only 1 case of 53 expressed IDH1. Thus, optic nerve gliomas demonstrated molecular alterations typical of pilocytic astrocytomas, including the universal presence of either BRAF duplication or NF1 association and common mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation but very rare mutant IDH1 expression.
KW - BRAF
KW - Fluorescence in situ hybridization
KW - Glioma
KW - MAPK
KW - Neurofibromatosis
KW - Optic nerve
KW - Pilocytic astrocytoma
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U2 - 10.1097/NEN.0b013e3182656ef8
DO - 10.1097/NEN.0b013e3182656ef8
M3 - Article
C2 - 22892521
AN - SCOPUS:84865656646
SN - 0022-3069
VL - 71
SP - 789
EP - 794
JO - Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology
JF - Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology
IS - 9
ER -