Characteristics of Adult Glioblastoma in Kuwait

Anwar Ghanim Al Banaw, Sarah Talib Hussain and Kenneth Chukwuka Katchy

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kuwait University, KuwaitDepartment of Medical Laboratory, Al-Sabah Hospital, Kuwait

^*Correspondance to: Kenneth Chukwuka Katchy 

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Abstract:

Introduction: Classification of Glioblastoma (GBM) into primary (p-GBM) and secondary (s-GBM) is based on IDH1 status. This study aims at evaluating selected biomarkers and clinical characteristics of adult GBM in Kuwait and establishing guidelines for case selection for DNA sequencing. Methods: Archived blocks of 100 GBM initially diagnosed in the Histopathology Unit, AlSabah Hospital between 2009 and 2016 in patients aged ≥ 20 years were retrieved and used for Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for wild-type and mutant IDH1, p53 and EGFR. Patients’ characteristics, presenting symptoms and duration, number of lesions, and tumor anatomic location and extent were extracted from the surgical records. Results: S-GBM comprises 10%, spares patients aged ≥ 60 years, has a mean age of 40.9 years, significant association with young age (<50 years) and an exclusive lobar distribution with a predilection for frontal lobe (60%). P-GBM has a mean age of 50.7 years and a more varied anatomic distribution. In 2%, IHC is negative for both wild-type and mutant IDH1. About 38% and 34% are p53+ and EGFR+. Significantly, 80% of s-GBM and 33% of p-GBM are p53+. EGFR+ is observed in 20% s-GBM and below the age of 35 years. EGFR+ s-GBM is located only in the frontal lobe. EGFR-/p53+, EGFR+-/p53-, EGFR+/p53+, and EGFR-/p53- phenotypes form 27%, 23%, 11% and 39% of all GBM respectively. Symptoms lasted for <3 months in 83%. Only 1% of these have s-GBM. About 13% have multiple lesions. Conclusion: Factors precluding DNA sequencing include patient’s age (≥ 60 years), multiple lesions, short duration of symptoms and EGFR+/p53- phenotype. IHC for wild-type IDH1 is unnecessary for GBM investigation.

Keywords:

Glioblastoma; IDH1; p53; EGFR; Kuwait

Cite the Article:

Al Banaw AG, Hussain ST, Katchy KC. Characteristics of Adult Glioblastoma in Kuwait. Clin Oncol.2019;4:1635 .