Age-specific genome-wide association study in glioblastoma identifies increased proportion of ‘lower grade glioma’-like features associated with younger age

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  • on behalf of the GliomaScan consortium

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor in the United States. Incidence of GBM increases with age, and younger age-at-diagnosis is significantly associated with improved prognosis. While the relationship between candidate GBM risk SNPs and age-at-diagnosis has been explored, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have not previously been stratified by age. Potential age-specific genetic effects were assessed in autosomal SNPs for GBM patients using data from four previous GWAS. Using age distribution tertiles (18–53, 54–64, 65+) datasets were analyzed using age-stratified logistic regression to generate p values, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), and then combined using meta-analysis. There were 4,512 total GBM cases, and 10,582 controls used for analysis. Significant associations were detected at two previously identified SNPs in 7p11.2 (rs723527 [p 54–63 = 1.50x10 −9 , OR 54–63 = 1.28, 95%CI 54–63 = 1.18–1.39; p 64+ = 2.14x10 −11 , OR 64+ = 1.32, 95%CI 64+ = 1.21–1.43] and rs11979158 [p 54–63 = 6.13x10 −8 , OR 54–63 = 1.35, 95%CI 54–63 = 1.21–1.50; p 64+ = 2.18x10 −10 , OR 64+ = 1.42, 95%CI 64+ = 1.27–1.58]) but only in persons >54. There was also a significant association at the previously identified lower grade glioma (LGG) risk locus at 8q24.21 (rs55705857) in persons ages 18–53 (p 18–53 = 9.30 × 10 −11 , OR 18–53 = 1.76, 95%CI 18–53 = 1.49–2.10). Within The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) there was higher prevalence of ‘LGG’-like tumor characteristics in GBM samples in those 18–53, with IDH1/2 mutation frequency of 15%, as compared to 2.1% [54–63] and 0.8% [64+] (p = 0.0005). Age-specific differences in cancer susceptibility can provide important clues to etiology. The association of a SNP known to confer risk for IDH1/2 mutant glioma and higher prevalence of IDH1/2 mutation within younger individuals 18–53 suggests that more younger individuals may present initially with ‘secondary glioblastoma.’.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Cancer
Volume143
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)2359-2366
Number of pages8
ISSN0020-7136
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

    Research areas

  • age, brain tumors, glioma

ID: 218768788