MGMT protein expression has been shown to be an independent prognostic biomarker of newly diagnosed glioblastomas. The immunohistochemistry test may identify, upfront and at lower cost, patients who may not respond to the Stupp protocol.
This finding of a retrospective analysis was reported at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), from October 21 – 24.
Arnab Chakravarti,, MD, of the Ohio State University, Columbus, explained that in glioblastoma, a main mechanism of resistance to treatment with radiation + temozolomide (Stupp protocol) is carried by the DNA-repair protein MGMT.
Methylation of the MGMT promoter region is a key prognostic factor in glioblastoma; however, the standard of care is the same for both methylated and unmethylated tumors because MGMT protein expression is regulated by alternative posttranscriptional and posttranslational mechanisms beyond promoter methylation.
Dr. Chakravarti and colleagues hypothesized that MGMT protein expression as assessed by immunohistochemistry could stratify the prognosis of patients with glioblastoma and add prognostic power to MGMT methylation. This ability would improve decision-making in the treatment of glioblastoma.
https://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(18)31094-0/fulltext
