Background The 2016 WHO classification of the central nervous system tumors stratifies IDH-mutant gliomas into two major groups depending on the presence or absence of 1p/19q-codeletion. However, the grading system remains unchanged and it is now controversial whether it can be still applied to this updated molecular classification. Methods In a large cohort of 911 high grade IDH-mutant gliomas from the French national POLA network (including 428 IDH-mutant gliomas without 1p/19q-codeletion and 483 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted), we investigated the prognostic value of CDKN2A gene homozygous deletion as well as WHO grading criteria (mitoses, microvascular proliferation and necrosis). In addition, we also searched for other retinoblastoma pathway gene alterations (CDK4 amplification and RB1 homozygous deletion) in a subset of patients. CDKN2A homozygous deletion was also searched in an independent series of 40 grade II IDH-mutant gliomas. Results CDKN2A homozygous deletion was associated with dismal outcome among IDH-mutant gliomas lacking 1p/19q-codeletion (p<0.0001 for progression-free survival and p=0.004 for overall survival) as well as among anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted (p=0.002 for progression-free survival and p<0.0001 for overall survival) in univariate and multivariate analysis including age, extend of surgery, adjuvant treatment, MVP and necrosis. In both groups, the presence of microvascular proliferation (MVP) and/or necrosis remained of prognostic value only in cases lacking CDKN2A homozygous deletion. CDKN2A homozygous deletion was not recorded in grade II gliomas. Conclusions Our study pointed out the utmost relevance of CDKN2A homozygous deletion as an adverse prognostic factor in the two broad categories of IDH-mutant gliomas stratified on 1p/19q-codeletion and suggest to refine the grading of these tumors.

SummarySeveral studies have shown that the accumulation of b-amyloid peptides in the brain parenchyma or vessel wall generates an inflammatory environment. Some even suggest that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between inflammation and the development of Alzheimer's disease and/or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Here, we studied the ability of wild-type Ab 1-40 -peptide (the main amyloid peptide that accumulates in the vessel wall in sporadic forms of CAA) to modulate the phenotypic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) toward an inflammatory/de-differentiated state. We found that Ab 1-40 -peptide alone neither induces an inflammatory response, nor decreases the expression of contractile markers; however, the inflammatory response of VSMCs exposed to Ab 1-40 -peptide prior to the addition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1b is greatly intensified compared with IL-1b-treated VSMCs previously unexposed to Ab 1-40 -peptide. Similar conclusions could be drawn when tracking the decline of contractile markers. Furthermore, we found that the mechanism of this potentiation highly depends on an Ab 1-40 preactivation of the PI 3 Kinase and possibly NFjB pathway; indeed, blocking the activation of these pathways during Ab 1-40 -peptide treatment completely suppressed the observed potentiation. Finally, strengthening the possible in vivo relevance of our findings, we evidenced that endothelial cells exposed to Ab 1-40 -peptide generate an inflammatory context and have similar effects than the ones described with IL-1b. These results reinforce the idea that intraparietal amyloid deposits triggering adhesion molecules in endothelial cells, contribute to the transition of VSMCs to an inflammatory/de-differentiated phenotype. Therefore, we suggest that acute inflammatory episodes may increase vascular alterations and contribute to the ontogenesis of CAA.

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PURPOSE The Lynch syndrome (LS)-glioma association is poorly documented. As for mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) in glioma, a hallmark of LS-associated tumors, there are only limited data available. We determined MMRd and LS prevalence in a large series of unselected gliomas, and explored the associated characteristics. Both have major implications in terms of treatment, screening, and prevention. METHODS Somatic next-generation sequencing was performed on 1,225 treatment-naive adult gliomas referred between 2017 and June 2022. For gliomas with ≥1 MMR pathogenic variant (PV), MMR immunohistochemistry (IHC) was done. Gliomas with ≥1 PV and protein expression loss were considered MMRd. Eligible patients had germline testing. To further explore MMRd specifically in glioblastomas, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild type (wt), we performed IHC, and complementary sequencing when indicated, in a series of tumors diagnosed over the 2007-2021 period. RESULTS Nine gliomas were MMRd (9/1,225; 0.73%). Age at glioma diagnosis was <50 years for all but one case. Eight were glioblastomas, IDH-wt, and one was an astrocytoma, IDH-mutant. ATRX (n = 5) and TP53 (n = 8) PV were common. There was no TERT promoter PV or EGFR amplification. LS prevalence was 5/1,225 (0.41%). One 77-year-old patient was a known LS case. Four cases had a novel LS diagnosis, with germline PV in MSH2 (n = 3) and MLH1 (n = 1). One additional patient had PMS2-associated constitutional mismatch repair deficiency. Germline testing was negative in three MSH6-deficient tumors. In the second series of glioblastomas, IDH-wt, MMRd prevalence was 12.5% in the <40-year age group, 2.6% in the 40-49 year age group, and 1.6% the ≥50 year age group. CONCLUSION Screening for MMRd and LS should be systematic in glioblastomas, IDH-wt, diagnosed under age 50 years.

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Background Several studies have interrogated the molecular pathways and their interacting genes underlying bladder cancer (BCa) tumorigenesis, yet, the role of homeobox genes is still poorly understood. Specifically, HOXA13, which plays an important role as a major actor in the urogenital tract's development. Methods Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to inspect the differential expression of HOXA13 protein in non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and non‐tumoral tissues. A semiquantitative scoring system was adopted to evaluate the IHC labeling. Correlation to clinical parameters was performed by descriptive statistics. Overall survival was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression model. The functional HOX A13 protein association networks (PPI) were obtained using String 11.0 database. Results HOX A13 exhibited cytoplasmic and nuclear staining. Its expression levels were lower in high‐grade NMIBC (HG NMIBC) compared to low‐grade ones (LG NMIBC). The expression of HOX A13 was correlated to tumor grade (LG/HG) ( p = 0.036) and stage (TA/T1) ( p = 0.036). Nevertheless, its expression was not correlated to clinical parameters and was not able to predict the overall survival of patients with HG NMIBC. Finally, PPI analysis revealed that HOX A13 seems to be a part of a molecular network holding mainly PBX1, MEIS, ALDH1A2, HOX A10, and HOX A11. Conclusion The deregulation of HOX A13 is not associated with the prognosis of BCa. It seems to be rather implicated in the early initiation of urothelial tumorigenesis and thus may serve as a diagnostic marker in patients with NMIBC. Further experimentations on larger validation sets are mandatory.

BACKGROUND recurring hotspot mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 enzymes, and to a lesser extent IDH2, are the main oncogenic alteration in most of lower-grade diffuse gliomas and a subset of grade 4 gliomas. Although most commonly represented by the IDH1R132H mutation, non-canonical IDH1/2-nonR132H mutations are present in about 10% of cases. As the neomorphic enzymatic activity can vary depending on the type of the hotspot mutation, a different biological behaviour may be inferred. Nevertheless, the prognostic significance of the different IDH1/2 mutations remains a matter of debate. MATERIAL AND METHODS we queried the OncoNeuroTek tumor bank (Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris) to identify all registered cases of IDH-mutated diffuse gliomas. Most relevant clinical and molecular data were collected. RESULTS We identified 1050 IDH mutated diffuse gliomas (481 grade 2 [46%], 459 grade 3 [44%], and 110 grade 4 [10%]), of which 1007 (96%) were IDH1 mutated (934 IDH1R132H [89%] and 73 IDH-nonR132H [7%]) and 43 (4%) were IDH2 mutated (24 IDH2R172K [2%] and 19 IDH2-nonR172K [2%]). The chromosomes 1p/19q codeletion was more frequent in IDH2-mutated tumors (25/42 [60%] versus 350/918 [38%] in IDH1-mutated cases, p=0.005). Nevertheless, only IDH2R172K mutation was associated with the codeletion (18/24 [75%], versus 7/18 [39%] in IDH2-nonR172K-mutated tumors, p=0.02). IDH1-nonR132H tumors showed the lowest rate of 1p/19q codeletion (9/69 [13%], versus 341/849 [40%] in IDH1R132H-mutated cases, p&lt;0.001). At the time of observation, 536 patients were deceased (51%), with a median overall survival (OS) of 115 months (mo., 95% CI 108–125 mo.). Median follow up for censored patients was 77 mo. Codeleted patients had a significantly longer OS compared to non-codeleted ones (179 vs. 96 mo., p&lt;0.001). No significant differences in survival were seen when stratifying according to IDH mutation type (115 mo. for IDH1R132H vs. 136 mo. for IDH1-nonR132H vs. 112 mo. for IDH2R172K vs. 150 mo. for IDH2-nonR172K, p=0.8). No differences were seen when restricting the analysis to codeleted or not-codeleted patients only, respectively. In a multivariate analysis including the main prognostic factors (age, sex, preoperative performance status, tumor grade, surgical resection, midline location, 1p/19q codeletion, and p16 homozygous deletion), no survival difference was associated with any of the IDH mutation subtype. CONCLUSION although significantly different rates of 1p/19q codeletion were seen according to the four main IDH mutation subgroups, these groups does not associate with different survival profiles in our cohort.