Review

Assessing MGMT methylation status and its current impact on treatment in glioblastoma

Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Comprehensive Cancer Center CNS Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria

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Johannes A Hainfellner

Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Comprehensive Cancer Center CNS Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria

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Christine Marosi

Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Comprehensive Cancer Center CNS Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria

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Matthias Preusser

*Author for correspondence:

E-mail Address: matthias.preusser@meduniwien.ac.at

Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Comprehensive Cancer Center CNS Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria

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Published Online:14 Jan 2015https://doi.org/10.2217/cns.14.50

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Abstract

SUMMARY

MGMT promoter methylation status is a strong and independent prognostic factor in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and a clinically relevant predictive marker in the subpopulation of elderly glioblastoma patients. However, there is still lack of consensus on the optimal assay for reliable MGMT promoter methylation testing and a variety of test are being used in different laboratories. Pyrosequencing is the only method for which an adequately high analytical performance (high intra- and interlaboratory repeatability and reproducibility) has been demonstrated in a fully published ring trial. For clinical decision-making MGMT promoter methylation testing should be performed only in experienced laboratories using meticulous validation of assay accuracy. Ideally, such laboratories should undergo regular accreditation through a quality control consortium.

Keywords:

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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Published online 14 January 2015

Published in print January 2015

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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