EGFR amplification (EGFRamp), the combination of gain of chromosome 7 and loss of chromosome 10 (7+/10-), and TERT promoter mutation (pTERTmut) are alterations frequently observed in adult IDH-wild-type (IDHwt) glioblastoma (GBM). In the absence of endothelial proliferation and/or necrosis, these alterations currently are considered to serve as a surrogate for upgrading IDHwt diffuse or anaplastic astrocytoma to GBM. Here, we set out to determine the distribution of EGFRamp, 7+/10-, and pTERTmut by analyzing high-resolution copy-number profiles and next-generation sequencing data of primary brain tumors. In addition, we addressed the question whether combinations of partial gains on chromosome 7 and partial losses on chromosome 10 exhibited a diagnostic and prognostic value similar to that of complete 7+/10-. Several such combinations proved relevant and were combined as the 7/10 signature. Our results demonstrate that EGFRamp and the 7/10 signature are closely associated with IDHwt GBM. In contrast, pTERTmut is less specific for IDHwt GBM. We conclude that, in the absence of endothelial proliferation and/or necrosis, the detection of EGFRamp is a very strong surrogate marker for the diagnosis of GBM in IDHwt diffuse astrocytic tumors. The 7/10 signature is also a strong surrogate marker. However, care should be taken to exclude pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. pTERTmut is less restricted to this entity and needs companion analysis by other molecular markers to serve as a surrogate for diagnosing IDHwt GBM. A combination of any two of EGFRamp, the 7/10 signature and pTERTmut, is highly specific for IDHwt GBM and the combination of all three alterations is frequent and exclusively seen in IDHwt GBM.
Keywords: 7+/10q−; 7+/10−; Astrocytoma; Chromosome 10 loss; Chromosome 7 gain; EGFR amplification; Glioblastoma; Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma; TERT promoter mutation.