Advances in the study of molecular markers for glioma

  In traditional tumor diagnosis, doctors make imaging judgments, and then pathology departments make judgments through cytomorphology, which inevitably has a subjective judgment factor. Molecular pathology, on the other hand, provides our clinicians with an objective standard, if there are genetic changes, such as IDH1 changes, then the prognosis of patients should be better than those without. With big data statistics, most patients will fall in this range, so it can be used as a good molecular marker for tumor prognosis.  For example, if a molecular pathology test reveals that a patient with a grade IV brain tumor has an IDH1 mutation, he or she may have a two to three year longer survival than a patient without the IDH mutation, and during that three year period, treatments based on the IDH mutation may be available. In addition, molecular markers can respond more objectively to the disease process, not necessarily judging it at the time of life and death, and seeing its response to drugs during the course of treatment.  It has been nearly 6 years since the discovery of IDH1/2 gene mutation and more than 2 years since the discovery of TERT promoter gene mutation in tumors. These two molecular markers have been validated by hundreds of clinical cases and are currently the two most important indicators for molecular diagnosis of clinical glioma, to determine the prognosis survival of patients and the corresponding treatment plan. They provide a strong theoretical basis and technical support for accurate diagnosis and treatment.  The development of these two targeted drugs is in progress and is currently in clinical trials. We expect that these new drugs will change the future of treatment.  Clinical translation of scientific research results is a process when a new and therapeutic option may be completely changed. On one side, diagnosis through molecular pathology is a powerful supplement to traditional pathology, and doctors need to know the patient’s tumor condition in order to design a treatment plan that is inclusive of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and so on; on the other hand, drug development needs will begin, which is the greatest blessing for cancer patients.  Previously, doctors had a confusion that some times could not distinguish oligodendritic, stellate or mixed type, now it has been completely separated through this. What does it mean? Previously, the vague judgment may be called mixed type, come on ten people are called mixed, now you just need to test IDH and TERT, but among them you can clearly see there are two subtypes, one group of people have a survival of ten years, one group of people have a survival of two years, are completely different two subtypes. In the past, it was not possible to tell, but now it is particularly clear that these two subtypes are completely different. It is for the existing treatment of radiation therapy, chemotherapy can choose.  When you know that there is a change in TERT and no change in IDH, the survival time for this type of gumma patient is generally one year; the survival time for a gumma patient with a change in IDH and no change in TERT is 3 years; when you know that there is a change in IDH and a change in TERT, this patient may have a survival time of 6-10 years. Knowing this, the patient and family can make more reasonable arrangements for their entire future life.