Synopsis

The World Health Organization classifies adult diffuse gliomas by integrating prognostically relevant molecular biomarkers with histopathologic features. Molecular biomarkers integrated in the classification include isocitrate dehydrogenase gene mutation and chromosome 1p/19q codeletion. For high grade gliomas / glioblastomas, MGMT promoter hypermethylation confers overall survival benefit and greater sensitivity to alkylating chemotherapy agents. Among pediatric gliomas, histone H3 mutations associate with high grade gliomas, and MAP kinase pathway alterations associate with low grade gliomas. Neuroimaging-based biomarkers can non-invasively predict underlying glioma genomic status and furthermore may add clinical value to the current classification scheme.