Open AccessGlioblastoma with Adipocyte‐Like Tumor Cell Differentiation—Histological and Molecular Features of a Rare Differentiation Pattern
Author(s) -
Rickert Christian H.,
Riemenschneider Markus J.,
Schachenmayr Walter,
Richter HansPeter,
Bockhorn Jürgen,
Reifenberger Guido,
Paulus Werner
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
brain pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.986
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1750-3639
pISSN - 1015-6305
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2008.00199.x
Subject(s) - cdkn2a , pten , biology , pathology , glial fibrillary acidic protein , cancer research , comparative genomic hybridization , cellular differentiation , adipocyte , gene , chromosome , adipose tissue , genetics , immunohistochemistry , medicine , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , endocrinology , immunology , signal transduction
We report on three adult patients with primary glioblastomas showing prominent adipocytic (lipomatous) differentiation, hence referred to as “glioblastomas with adipocyte‐like tumor cell differentiation.” Histologically, the tumors demonstrated typical features of glioblastoma but additionally contained areas consisting of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐positive astrocytic tumor cells resembling adipocytes, that is, containing large intracellular lipid vacuoles. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and focused molecular genetic analyses demonstrated gains of chromosomes 7, losses of chromosomes 9 and 10, as well as homozygous deletion of p14 ARF in one of the tumors. The second tumor showed gains of chromosomes 3, 4, 8q and 12 as well as losses of chromosomes 10, 13, 15q, 19 and 22. In addition, this tumor carried homozygous deletions of CDKN2A and p14 ARF as well as point mutations in the TP53 and PTEN genes. The third tumor also had a mutation in the PTEN gene. None of the tumors demonstrated EGFR , CDK4 or MDM2 amplification. Taken together, our results define a rare glioblastoma differentiation pattern and indicate that glioblastomas with adipocyte‐like tumor cell differentiation share common molecular genetic features with other primary glioblastomas.