PATH-04. INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUAL CpG METHYLATION STATUS OF THE MGMT PROMOTOR ON OUTCOME IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME RECEIVING ALKYLATING AGENT TREATMENT

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Methylation of O-6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promotor causes gene silencing and has been associated with a favourable prognosis in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) receiving alkylating chemotherapy. However, analysis of MGMT promotor methylation is usually reported as a cut-off depending on the results of the correspondent CpG-site testing. This approach disregards a possible heterogeneity concerning the methylation status within the individual CpG-sites and its possible association with prognosis in GBM patients. The current study aimed at elucidating the association between methylation of CpG-sites 74–98 within the MGMT promotor region and outcome in GBM patients receiving alkylating agents. METHODS Individual methylation status of 230 patients with histologically proven GBM following concomitant radio-chemotherapy with TMZ after stereotactic biopsy or open tumor resection was assessed by the Sanger-sequencing approach. Methylation of CpG-sites 74–98 within the MGMT promotor region was defined according to a ratio of cytosine/thymine peak > 50%. The total number of methylated CpG-sites was correlated with outcome using proportional hazards models. In a subset of 34 patients, a correlation between individual CpG-site methylation and MGMT mRNA-expression was performed. RESULTS Median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 7.8 and 14.6months, respectively. The cumulative total number of methylated loci within the CpG-sites 74–98 was strongly associated with both PFS and OS and retained its prognostic influence on outcome in multivariate models (p< 0.001). Furthermore, a linear coherence between the total number of methylated CpG-sites 74–98 and survival parameters could be observed. Moreover, low number of methylated CpG-sites was observed in tumor specimen with a high mRNA-expression and vice versa (Spearman-correlation-coefficient: -0.62). CONCLUSION Our data suggest a strong linear coherence between outcome and the total number of methylated CpG-sites 74–98, thus an up-front analysis of the individual GpC-site methylation status prior to initiation of alkylating chemotherapy might help improving treatment response in GBM patients.