Clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of cerebellar glioblastoma.

Abstract

Cerebellar glioblastomas (GBMs) are rare, with neither their pathogenesis nor prognosis being completely understood. The present study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of cerebellar GBMs by comparison with supratentorial GBMs, focusing particularly on the pathogenesis. The clinical factors between cerebellar (n=10) and supratentorial (n=216) GBMs were compared. Additionally, p53 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) levels were investigated in sixpatients by immunostaining as well as the isocitrate dehydrogenase1 (IDH1) status of fivepatients by direct sequencing. Eightmales and twofemales participated in the present study, the mean age at diagnosis was 56.6years and the range 37-75years. Four patients presented with hydrocephalus and one with brainstem involvement, and two patients were diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type1. Two patients had previously received radiotherapy, eight patients received postoperative radiotherapy and seven chemotherapy. The mean Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score was lower in patients with cerebellar GBMs compared to those with supratentorial GBM; however, the survival times did not differ between the two groups. All of the cases of sixcerebellar GBMs were p53‑positive and EGFR‑negative, as detected by immunostaining, consistent with secondary GBM. However, no IDH1 mutations were detected in any of the five cases of cerebellar GBMs analyzed, indicating that these tumors were not of the secondary type. The KPS score with cerebellar GBMs may be lower due to hydrocephalus, which was ameliorated by surgery but may have impacted the survival rate. It was confirmed that cerebellar GBMs were identical to supratentorial GBMs with respect to its clinical features, with the possible exception of the KPS score. The present study's genetic analyses indicated that cerebellar GBMs may develop via a pathway different from that of either primary or secondary GBM.