Involvement of the neural stem cell compartment by pediatric and adult gliomas: a retrospective review of 377 cases

To assess frequency of neural stem cell compartment (NSC) involvement in adult and pediatric gliomas [World Health Organization (WHO) grades 1–4], and to assess whether NSC involvement at presentation impacts on survival, recurrence rates, and/or transformation from low grade (WHO grade 1–2) to high grade disease (WHO grades 3–4). Cranial MRIs for 154 pediatric and 223 adult glioma patients treated from 2000 to 2012 were reviewed. NSC involvement was documented. Tumors were stratified by age (adult vs. pediatric), histology, tumor grade, tumor location, and involvement of midline structures. Odds ratios (OR) for death were calculated based on NSC status at presentation. Rates of transformation and recurrence rates (ORR) were compared using Fisher’s Exact Test. Time to recurrence (TTR) was calculated using student t test. Among recurrent and transformed tumors, we also assessed the rate of NSC involvement at time of recurrence or transformation. 74.8 % of tumors had NSC involvement. Higher rates of NSC involvement were seen among adult (p = .0001); high grade (p = .0001)); grade 2 versus grade 1 (p = .0001) and other grade 1 histologies (p = .0001) versus JPA (juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma) patients); grade 2–4 tumors (p = .0001); and supratentorial tumors (p < .0001). No transformation was noted among pediatric low grade tumors or adult grade 1 tumors. 22/119 (18.5 %) adult grade 2 tumors transformed. Rates of transformation were not impacted by NSC status (p = .47). ORR was 15.1 %, and was greater for NSC+ tumors at presentation (p = .05). 36/41 recurrences (87.8 %) involved NSC at time of recurrence. OR for death was 2.62 (1.16–5.9), p = .02 for NSC+ tumors at presentation. Adult and pediatric gliomas (all grades) frequently involve NSC at presentation, although rates are lower in pediatric JPA and all infratentorial tumors. NSC involvement at presentation increases OR death and reduces TTR for pediatric gliomas (all grades) and adult low grade gliomas, and shows a strong trend toward increased ORR.