Application of ATRX in diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of glioma

Objective To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic implications of ATRX mutation and p53 mutation in patients with glioma. Methods The clinicopathologic and molecular features of Chinese adult glioma patients, including diffuse and anaplastic astroastrocytoma with IDH mutation, oligodendroglioma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma with IDH mutation and 1p/19q co-deletion and diffuse astroastrocytoma with IDH wild type were reviewed and tested for ATRX loss expression and p53 overexpression. Results Loss of ATRX expression was seen in 85.19% (23/27) diffuse and anaplastic astroastrocytoma with IDH mutation, higher than that of oligodendroglial tumors (0/53; P<0.01). Loss of ATRX expression was strongly linked to p53 overexpression(69.57%, 16/23). The patients who lost ATRX expression combined with normal p53 expression survived longer(P=0.013). Conclusions ATRX mutation is a molecular marker for astrocytic tumors. ATRX mutation combined with p53 mutation can predict prognosis of patients with glioma. Key words: Glioma; Tumor suppressor protein p53; Prognosis; X-linked alpha thalassemia mental retardation syndrome gene