Abstract BACKGROUND Diffuse hemispheric glioma, histone 3 (H3) G34-mutant, is a pediatric-type diffuse high-grade glioma newly defined in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors 2021. Here we sought to define the prognostic roles of clinical, neuroimaging, pathological, and molecular features of these tumors. METHODS We retrospectively assembled a cohort of 114 patients with diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant and profiled the imaging presentation and the molecular landscape of their tumors. RESULTS Compared with glioblastoma, H3 G34-mutant tumors exhibited less avid contrast enhancement, less necrosis and less edema on MRI. Comprehensive analyses of mutational and DNA copy number profiles revealed recurrent mutations in TP53 and ATRX, homozygous deletions of CDKN2A/B, and amplifications of PDGFRA, EGFR, CCND2, and MYCN. MGMT promoter methylation was detected in 79 tumors (75%); 11 tumors (13%) showed DNA copy number profiles suggestive of circumscribed deletions on 10q26.3 involving the MGMT locus. Median survival was 21.5 months (95% CI 15.3-27.7) and eight patients (7.0%) survived for ≥ five years. Female sex, gross total resection, and MGMT promoter methylation were positive prognostic factors on univariate analysis. Among radiological, pathological and molecular features, absence of pial invasion, and presence of microvascular proliferation and CDK6 amplification were positive prognostic factors on univariate analyses. CONCLUSION This study refines the clinical and molecular landscape of H3 G34-mutant diffuse hemispheric gliomas. Dedicated trials for this novel tumor type are urgently needed.
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