MRI Features Associated with TERT Promoter Mutation Status in Glioblastoma.

TitleMRI Features Associated with TERT Promoter Mutation Status in Glioblastoma.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsIvanidze J, Lum M, Pisapia D, Magge R, Ramakrishna R, Kovanlikaya I, Fine HA, Chiang GC
JournalJ Neuroimaging
Volume29
Issue3
Pagination357-363
Date Published2019 05
ISSN1552-6569
KeywordsAdult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Brain, Brain Neoplasms, Female, Glioblastoma, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Mutation, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, Telomerase, Tumor Burden, Young Adult
Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are associated with worse prognosis in glioblastoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether TERT mutation status was associated with specific morphologic and quantitative imaging features.

METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2-wildtype glioblastoma (13 TERT-wildtype, 16 TERT-mutated), who underwent preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were included in this retrospective study. Qualitative imaging phenotypes were evaluated using the Visually Accessible Rembrandt Images (VASARIs) feature set. Histogram analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR perfusion values were performed on enhancing tumor volumes-of-interest, and differences between TERT-wildtype and TERT-mutated tumors were assessed.

RESULTS: VASARI analysis demonstrated that the majority of morphologic features were not significantly different between TERT-wildtype and TERT-mutated tumors, although a higher proportion of TERT-wildtype tumors featured nonenhancing tumor crossing midline (P = .014). TERT-mutated tumors demonstrated lower median rate constant k (.38 vs. .76, P = .03) and lower median volume transfer coefficient K (.13 vs. .31, P = .02). There was no significant difference in median plasma volume v (P = .92) or ADC values (P = .66) between the two groups. We further found a significant interaction between median k and K and TERT status, respectively, suggesting greater risk of death with increasing blood-brain barrier dysfunction in TERT-mutated but not in TERT-wildtype tumors.

CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates evidence of altered permeability metrics associated with TERT mutation in glioblastoma, laying the foundation for future prospective studies assessing implications for therapeutic management and clinical outcomes.

DOI10.1111/jon.12596
Alternate JournalJ Neuroimaging
PubMed ID30644143