Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
Introduction
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor and carries a poor prognosis. Despite aggressive multimodality treatment, the median survival is approximately 18- 20 months, depending on molecular subgroups. While it’s known that older adults with GBM have a worse prognosis compared to younger patients, the precise molecular mechanism(s) and key mediator(s) of this aging-related phenomenon remain largely unknown.
Methods
We extracted data of 593 primary GBM patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (www.cancergenome.nih.gov). The data included age at diagnosis, treatment (surgical versus non- surgical), outcome (deceased versus living), survival time, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), and gene expression profile based on RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) data. For analysis, the study data was distributed into four age groups (10-44 years, 45-54 years, 55-64 years, and > 65 years of age). Age-related survival and molecular signatures were identified via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and mutational profiling.
Results
The median survival time (MST) of all GBM patients in this study was 12.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.1-13.1 months). The age group > 65 years had the lowest MST, i.e., 7.4 months (95% CI, 5.5-9.2 months). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly decreased survival with advancing age (log rank test, p < 0.0001; Breslow test, p < 0.000). The mutational profile analysis identified that PTEN, TP53, TTN, EGFR, MUC16, PIK3R1, NF1, and RYR2 mutations were found more frequently in GBM patients’ age group > 65 years with shortest survival time.
Conclusion
Age-specific survival analysis and RNA-Seq profiling identifies a sub-set of genes more commonly mutated in older GBM patients with shorter survival time. Further characterization of the molecular signatures associated with aging in GBM patients will help identify mechanisms that contribute to GBM severity in this age group and may also lead to identification of potential therapeutic targets.
Recommended Citation
Kazim, Syed Faraz; Devan W. Vidrine; Meic H. Schmidt; Chad D. Cole; Sara G M Picirillo; and Christian A. Bowers. "Aging-Specific Survival and Molecular Signatures of Glioblastoma Multiforme: Analysis of Clinical and Large-Scale Transcriptomic Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)." (2021). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hsc-bbhrd/15
Comments
Poster presented at the Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day 2021