Purpose: Unexpected mutations affecting the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1) gene at codon 132 have been found in 12% of glioblastomas. Patients and Methods: IDH1 codon 132 sequencing was performed in a series of 404 patients with glioma (100 grade 2, 121 grade 3, and 183 grade 4 gliomas) and correlated with histology, genomic profile, methylguanyl methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status, and outcome. Results: A total of 155 codon 132 mutations were found, of which 131 were Arg132His (88.5%). The IDH1 mutation was inversely correlated with grade, affecting 77% of grade 2, 55% of grade 3, and 6% of grade 4 gliomas (P < 10⁻¹⁵). The IDH1 mutation was tightly associated with a 1p19q codeleted genotype (P < 10⁻¹⁴) and an MGMT methylated status (P < .001) but mutually exclusive with EGFR amplification (P < 10⁻¹⁵) and loss of chromosome 10 (P < 10⁻¹⁵). The presence (v absence) of IDH1 mutation was associated with a better outcome in grade 2 (150.9 v 60.1 months, respectively; P = .01), grade 3 (81.1 v 19.4 months, respectively; P < .001), and grade 4 gliomas (27.4 v 14 months, respectively; P < .01). After adjustment for grade, age, MGMT status, genomic profile, and treatment, multivariate analysis confirmed that IDH1 mutation was an independent favorable prognostic marker (hazard ratio = 0.297; 95% CI, 0.157 to 0.564, P = .00021). Conclusion: This study indicates that IDH1 codon 132 mutation is closely linked to the genomic profile of the tumor and constitutes an important prognostic marker in grade 2 to 4 gliomas.

Diffuse H3 K27M-mutant gliomas occur primarily in children but can also be encountered in adults. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of H3 K27M-mutant gliomas in adults. We analyzed the characteristics of 21 adult H3 K27M-mutant gliomas and compared them with those of 135 adult diffuse gliomas without histone H3 and without isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation (IDH/H3 wild type). The median age at diagnosis in H3 K27M-mutant gliomas was 32 years (range: 18–82 y). All tumors had a midline location (spinal cord n = 6, thalamus n = 5, brainstem n = 5, cerebellum n = 3, hypothalamus n = 1, and pineal region n = 1) and were IDH and BRAF-V600E wild type. The identification of an H3 K27M mutation significantly impacted the diagnosis in 3 patients (14%) for whom the histological aspect initially suggested a diffuse low-grade glioma and in 7 patients (33%) for whom pathological analysis hesitated between a diffuse glioma, ganglioglioma, or pilocytic astrocytoma. Compared with IDH/H3 wild-type gliomas, H3 K27M-mutant gliomas were diagnosed at an earlier age (32 vs 64 y, P < .001), always had a midline location (21/21 vs 21/130, P < .001), less frequently had a methylated MGMT promoter (1/21 vs 52/129, P = .002), and lacked EGFR amplification (0/21 vs 26/128, P = .02). The median survival was 19.6 months in H3 K27M-mutant gliomas and 17 months in IDH/H3 wild-type gliomas (P = .3). In adults, as in children, H3 K27M mutations define a distinct subgroup of IDH wild-type gliomas characterized by a constant midline location, low rate of MGMT promoter methylation, and poor prognosis.

Background: Recently, the gene encoding the human cytosolic NADPH-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1) was reported frequently mutated in gliomas. Rare mutations were also found in the sequence of the mitochondrial isoform IDH2. Methods: In a series of 764 gliomas genome-wide characterized, we determined the presence of mutations in the sequences of both IDH1 and IDH2 genes by direct sequencing. Results: We found that all tumors with complete 1p19q codeletion (n = 128) were mutated in the IDH1 (118) or IDH2 (10) gene. This 100% mutation rate contrasted strikingly with other gliomas exhibiting either variable 1p and 19q alterations (n = 159, IDH1/IDH2 mutation rate of 33%) or no 1p19q alteration (n = 477, IDH1/IDH2 mutation rate 32%). Our data also confirm the prognostic impact of IDH1/IDH2 mutation in gliomas whatever grade considered: patients harboring mutations of IDH1/IDH2 have an improved median overall survival. Moreover, in WHO grade II and III gliomas, 3 groups with significantly different outcomes were identified according to their 1p19q and IDH1/IDH2 statuses. Tumors carrying both alterations had longer overall survival than their nonmutated counterpart. Conclusions: This exclusive association suggests a new mechanism of tumorigenesis. Perhaps the IDH1/IDH2 mutation is a prerequisite for the occurrence of the t(1;19) translocation, or it is required for the 1p19q codeleted cells to acquire a tumor phenotype.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and specificities of adult male patients with NMDA receptor antibodies (NMDAr-Abs) encephalitis. Methods: Observational study of 13 adult male patients who were diagnosed with NMDAr-Abs encephalitis at the French Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome Reference Center. Results: Adult male patients frequently presented initially with a seizure (8/13, 61.5%). Seizures were partial in 5/8 patients and were followed only a few days later (median 12 days; range 2–17 days) by psychiatric or cognitive symptoms. Conversely, adult female patients rarely presented with a seizure initially (8/58, 14%, p < 0.001), and most of their seizures were generalized and were rapidly followed (median 2 days; range 1–7 days) by behavioral and psychiatric features. Additionally, in male patients the disease was rarely associated with a tumor (1/13 or 8%, a perineal schwannoma); in contrast, 41% of female patients had an associated tumor (95% of which were ovarian teratomas; p = 0.02 male vs female association with tumor). The incidences of abnormalities in ancillary tests, treatment modalities, clinical evolution, and outcome were equal for both subgroups. Conclusion: Adult male patients who have partial seizures, normal MRI results, and no clear etiology should be tested for NMDAr-Abs to avoid any delays in treatment initiation. Adult female patients who had a seizure as the first symptom are infrequent when NMDAr-Abs encephalitis is diagnosed; additionally, their clinical pattern is different from male patients, with more generalized seizures and rapid development of behavioral and psychiatric symptoms. The differences in hormonal influence could contribute to this difference in clinical pattern.