Diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M–mutant
Primary Author(s)
Linda D Cooley, MD, MBA
Cancer Category/Type
Brain tumor
Cancer Sub-Classification / Subtype
H3 K27M-mutant glioma
Definition / Description of Disease
An infiltrative midline high-grade glioma with predominantly astrocytic differentiation and a K27M mutation in either H3F3A or HIST1H3B/C (1).
H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma predominates in children, but can be seen in adults. It is a grade IV tumor even when mitotic figures, microvascular proliferation and necrosis are absent.
In adults, this is a distinct subgroup of IDH wild-type gliomas characterized by a constant midline location, low rate of MGMT promoter methylation, and poor prognosis (2).
Synonyms / Terminology
Histone H3.3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the H3F3A gene. Mutations of H3F3A are linked to certain cancers. p.Lys27Met were discovered in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), where they are present 65-75% of tumors and confer a worse prognosis. p.Lys27Met alterations in HIST1H3B and HIST1H3C, which code for histone H3.1 have been reported in ~10% of DIPG (7,8).
Epidemiology / Prevalence
Adults (2): Predominately younger adults (<40 yrs); but can occur at any age 2-7.5% of adult IDH wild-type astrocytomas 37.5-66% of adult midline gliomas Pediatric & young adult3: Majority of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), thalamic glioblastomas (GBM) Median age 5-11 years with pontine tumors arising at ~7 years and thalamic tumors at ~11 years
Clinical Features
The clinical presentation – brainstem dysfunction, CSF obstruction, increase intracranial pressure, ataxia, cranial nerve injury, progressive sensorimotor deficits.
Sites of Involvement
Midline locations: brainstem (midbrain, pons, floor 4th ventricle, medulla oblongata), spinal cord, thalamus; Other locations: hypothalamus, pineal region, cerebellum
Morphologic Features
Histopathology – astrocytic morphology – can range from diffuse low-grade glioma to high grade glioma. H3 K27M-mutant gliomas can display a broad spectrum of histological features, including giant, epithelioid, and rhabdoid cells; primitive neuroectodermal tumor–like foci; ependymal-like areas; sarcomatous transformation, as well as features that may wrongly suggest circumscribed gliomas such as neuropil-like islands, pilomyxoid features, ganglionic differentiation, and pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma-like areas.
Immunophenotype
| Finding | Marker |
|---|---|
| Positive (universal) | H3F3A K27M, NCAM1, S100, Oligo2 |
| Positive (subset) | GFAP variable, MAP2 common, synaptophysin may be focal, TP53, MGMT |
| Negative (universal) | Chromogranin-A, NeuN, IDH, EGFR |
| Negative (subset) | ATRX |
Characteristic Chromosomal Aberrations / Patterns
H3-K27M mutation defines the entity. K27M mutation occurs in either of 2 genes, H3F3A or HIST1H3B, which encode the histone H3 variants, H3.3 and H3.1, respectively (3). Cooperating genetic alterations include: TP53 and ATRX mutations. A subset of K27M+ DIPGs have ACVR1 missense mutations (encodes the activin A receptor type-1 transmembrane protein, that lead to activation of the BMP-TGF signaling pathway). Other alterations found in K27M+ DIPGs include PIK3CA mutation, PDGFRA mutation or amplification, PPM1D mutation, and amplification of cell cycle genes including CCND1, CDK4 and CDK6 (3).
Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH
Put your text here or fill in the table
| Chromosome Number | Gain/Loss/Amp/LOH | Region |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Loss | Monosomy 10 or 10q loss |
| Xq21.1 | Loss | ATRX loss |
| 17p13.1 | overexpression | TP53 |
| 4q12 | gain/amplification | PDGFRA (1,8) - ~50% of DIPG |
| 8q24.2 | gain/amplification | MYC/PVT1 (1,8) ~35% |
| 12q14.1/7q21.2/11q13.3 | gain/amplification | CDK4/6, CCND1-3 (1) ~20% |
| 2p25.1 | gain/amplification | ID2 (1) ~10% |
| 7q31.2 | gain/amplification | MET (1) ~7% |
| losses | 5q, 6q, 17p, 21q common (8) | |
| gains | 1q, 2 (1) |
Additional Description:
Mutually exclusive: IDH1 mutation, EGFR amplification Rare co-occurrence: BRAF V600E
Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)
| Mutation % | Mutation |
|---|---|
| 100% | H3F3A or HIST1H3B/C K27M mutation – by definition |
| ~70% | TP53, PPM1D, CHEK2, ATM |
| ~50% | PDGFRA, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN |
| ~20% | ACVR1 (DIPG) |
| Other Mutations | Concomitant Mutations |
|---|---|
| C228T TERT promoter mut | |
| activating mutation or fusions targeting FGFR1 (1) | |
| NTRK fusion ~4% pontine gliomas |
Epigenomics (Methylation)
The lysine 27 to methionine substitution in histone variant H3.3 (H3.3-K27M) mutation leads to a global reduction of H3K27 trimethylation in a dominant manner by sequestering an enzymatic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). As a consequence, the epigenetic setting of the cell including DNA methylation is altered and drives gene expression changes towards tumorigenesis (6).
Genes and Main Pathways Involved
The lysine 27 to methionine substitution in histone variant H3.3 (H3.3-K27M) is the most common mutation in pediatric high grade gliomas (6).
Diagnostic Testing Methods
Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, FISH, sequencing, SNP array
Clinical Significance (Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Implications)
H3-K27M mutation associated with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis Two year survival rate of <10%.
Familial Forms
MUTYH germline mutation reported in one case (5)
Other Information
K27M mutation alters an important site of post-translational modification in the histone H3 variants and leads to altered DNA methylation and gene expression profiles thought to drive gliomagenesis. There are ongoing studies targeting histone modifying enzymes. A small molecule inhibitor of histone demethylase KDM6B (JMJD3) and a histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat are under investigation (2,5).
Links
References
Reference Example, BOOK
1. Louis DN, Ohgaki H, Wiestler OD, Cavenee WK (Eds). WHO classification of tumours of the central nervous system (Revised 4th edition). IARC: Lyon 2016.
Reference Example, Journal Article
2. Meyronet D, et al. Characteristics of H3 K27M-mutant gliomas in adults. Neuro-Oncology 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/now274
3. Solomon DA, et al. Diffuse Midline Gliomas with Histone H3-K27M Mutation: A Series of 47 Cases Assessing the Spectrum of Morphologic Variation and Associated Genetic Alterations. Brain Pathology 2016;26:569-580. https://doi:10.1111/bpa.12336
4. Aboian MS, et al. Imaging Characteristics of Pediatric Diffuse Midline Gliomas with Histone H3 K27M Mutation. Am J Neuroradiol 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A5076
5. Kline CN, et al. Targeted next-generation sequencing of pediatric neuro-oncology patients improves diagnosis, identifies pathogenic germline mutations, and directs targeted therapy. Neuro-Oncology 2016. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/now254
6. Wernig Marius. Functional Analysis of the H3.3‐K27M mutation in pediatric glioma. http://www.childhoodbraintumor.org/grant-summaries-and-abstracts/item/286-functional-analysis-of-the-h3-3-k27m-mutation-in-pediatric-glioma
7. Wu G, et al. Somatic histone H3 alterations in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas and non-brainstem glioblastomas. Nature Genetics 2012;44:251-253.
8. Khuong-Quang D-A, et al. K27M mutation in histone H3.3 defines clinically and biologically distinct subgroups of pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. Acta Neuropathologica 2012;124:439-447.