Wadhwani, Nitin R.

2089 Background: Central neurocytomas (CNs) are rare, WHO grade 2 brain tumors that can have relatively high recurrence rates following surgical resection. Owing to the rarity of CNs and limited robust data, the optimal use and timing of radiotherapy (RT) remain undefined, particularly in young adults with low mortality. Tumor proliferation index (Ki-67) may also predict CN recurrence rates, but there is no consensus on its utility in clinical practice. The present collaboration between Northwestern University and the Mayo Clinic describes long-term outcomes of CN as it relates to RT timing and Ki-67 level. Methods: Patients established between 1990-2025 with a tissue diagnosis of CN at Northwestern University and the Mayo Clinic were reviewed. Demographic, treatment, and tumor characteristics (histologic/molecular) were recorded. Recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated according to the Kaplan Meier-method. Results: Fifty-one patients with CN (51% male, 49% female)--with a median age of 26 years and 9.7 years median follow-up--were included. RFS at 2, 5, and 10 years for the cohort was 79%, 65%, and 59% respectively; OS at 10 years for the cohort was 94%, and no deaths were attributed to uncontrolled CN. Subtotal resection (STR) yielded 2- and 5-year RFS of 74% and 65%, while gross total resection (GTR) yielded 2- and 5-year RFS of 90% and 66%. Median Ki-67 of the cohort was 3%; RFS at 2 and 5 years for Ki-67 <3% was 82% and 76%, compared to 76% and 43% for Ki-67 ≥3% (p<0.02). In patients who underwent resection without adjuvant RT (n=35), those with STR had a 2- and 5-year RFS of 61% and 45%, and those with GTR had a 2- and 5- year RFS of 88% and 61%. Additionally, without adjuvant RT, RFS at 2 and 5 years for Ki-67 <3% was 73% and 64% versus 71% and 24% for Ki-67 ≥3%. Among patients without adjuvant RT and Ki-67 ≥3% (n=14), 2-year RFS was 60% after STR and 78% after GTR. Salvage RT after first recurrence (n=16) had a 5-year RFS of 81%, with a median follow-up of 4.1 years. Conclusions: We report one of the largest cohorts of CN with long-term follow-up. STR and/or Ki-67 ≥3% were associated with shorter RFS. Salvage RT at recurrence achieved durable long-term tumor control, and long-term (~10-year) mortality was low. In appropriately selected patients, observation after resection may be a reasonable initial strategy, with RT reserved for salvage. General cohort characteristics (n=51) with Ki-67 (n=39). Variable Number (%) Median Age (years) 26 (range: 5-57) Gender, Male:Female (M/F) 26:25 (51/49) Subtotal Resection 29 (57) Gross Total Resection 22 (43) Adjuvant Radiotherapy 16 (31) Salvage Radiotherapy 16 (31) No Radiotherapy 19 (38) Ki-67 ≥3 21 (56) Ki-67 <3 18 (44)

Abstract Background Methylation class pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (mcPXA) comprises tumors with the DNA methylation signature of classical PXA but with a wider histologic spectrum, including overlap with glioblastoma (GBM). Methods To clarify the histologic and molecular scope of mcPXA and characterize its clinical behavior, a cohort of 469 tumor samples from 458 patients matching to mcPXA by the DKFZ classifier (v12.6 score ≥0.85) was interrogated. Results Patient median age was 23 years (range 1-73 years) with a female predominance (259 female/199 male). CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion was observed in 406 of 469 (87%) samples. In samples tested for BRAF p.V600E mutations (n = 279), 240 (86%) harbored the mutation. A chr7+/chr10− pattern was observed in 103 of 469 (22%) samples. Among samples tested for TERT promoter mutations (n = 143), 32 (22%) harbored the mutation. Progression-free and overall survival of patients with mcPXA were comparable to patients with methylation class IDH-mutant astrocytoma, low grade, but a GBM-like subset (ie, cases with a pre-methylation working diagnosis of GBM) showed shorter survival. Histologic features of high grade, including palisading necrosis and microvascular proliferation, were prognostic in mcPXA. Compared to patients with BRAF p.V600E-altered GBM, patients with mcPXA were younger and had a lower frequency of TERT promoter mutations. Conclusion Tumors in mcPXA share molecular characteristics with histologically defined PXA, and high-grade histologic features can help predict their clinical behavior. The use of an epigenetic classification of PXA reveals that this group of tumors is more common than previously appreciated and warrants in-depth study to identify efficacious therapeutic options.

Abstract Methylation profiling has revealed unexpected relationships between traditional histopathology-based versus biologically-based classifications of brain tumors. Methylation class pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (mcPXA) comprises tumors with the same methylation signature as classical PXA but with additional morphologic patterns, including overlap with glioblastoma (GBM). To characterize mcPXA, we examined epidemiologic, histologic, and molecular features as well as clinical behavior of a cohort (n=313) of tumors matching to mcPXA by the DKFZ classifier (v12 score &gt;= 0.85). Patient median age was 19 (range 1-73) with a female predominance (178 female/135 male). CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion was observed in 273 (87%) cases. In the subset of cases tested for BRAF p.V600E (n=120), 111 (93%) harbored the mutation. Concomitant chr7+/chr10- was observed in 66 (21%) cases. In the subset of cases tested for TERT promoter mutations (n=50), 11 (22%) harbored the mutation, always with co-occurrence of BRAF p.V600E (11/11) and infrequently with chr7+/chr10- (3/11). MGMT promoter methylation was observed in 40 (13%) cases. Overall and progression-free survival (OS, PFS) in mcPXA were similar to grade 2-3 IDH-mutant astrocytoma (A-IDH). Prognostic factors in mcPXA included GBM-like histopathology (defined as cases diagnosed as GBM prior to methylation profiling), concomitant chr7+/chr10-, and MGMT promoter methylation. GBM-like histopathology was associated with shorter OS (p=0.02) and PFS (p&lt; 0.01) compared to cases without GBM-like histopathology. Concomitant chr7+/chr10- was associated with shorter PFS (p=0.02), and MGMT promoter methylation was associated with shorter OS (p=0.03). Our findings demonstrate that mcPXA tumors affect adolescents and young adults, share molecular features of classical PXA, and manifest clinical behavior similar to classical PXA, but subsets of tumors with atypical features (chr7+/chr10-, MGMT promoter methylation, and/or GBM-like histopathology) are more aggressive. The use of a molecular definition of PXA reveals that this tumor type is more common than previously appreciated and warrants in-depth study for therapeutic options.

AbstractAnaplasia may be identified in a subset of tumors with a presumed pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) component or piloid features, which may be associated with aggressive behavior, but the biologic basis of this change remains unclear. Fifty‐seven resections from 36 patients (23 M, 13 F, mean age 32 years, range 3–75) were included. A clinical diagnosis of NF1 was present in 8 (22%). Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) was assessed by telomere‐specific FISH and/or CISH. A combination of immunohistochemistry, DNA sequencing and FISH were used to study BRAF, ATRX, CDKN2A/p16, mutant IDH1 p.R132H and H3‐K27M proteins. ALT was present in 25 (69%) cases and ATRX loss in 20 (57%), mostly in the expected association of ALT+/ATRX‐ (20/24, 83%) or ALT‐/ATRX+ (11/11, 100%). BRAF duplication was present in 8 (of 26) (31%). H3‐K27M was present in 5 of 32 (16%) cases, all with concurrent ATRX loss and ALT. ALT was also present in 9 (of 11) cases in the benign PA precursor, 7 of which also had ATRX loss in both the precursor and the anaplastic tumor. In a single pediatric case, ALT and ATRX loss developed in the anaplastic component only, and in another adult case, ALT was present in the PA‐A component only, but ATRX was not tested. Features associated with worse prognosis included subtotal resection, adult vs. pediatric, presence of a PA precursor preceding a diagnosis of anaplasia, necrosis, presence of ALT and ATRX expression loss. ALT and ATRX loss, as well as alterations involving the MAPK pathway, are frequent in PA with anaplasia at the time of development of anaplasia or in their precursors. Additionally, a small subset of PA with anaplasia have H3‐K27M mutations. These findings further support the concept that PA with anaplasia is a neoplasm with heterogeneous genetic features and alterations typical of both PA and diffuse gliomas.