Diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers in common adult gliomas

The majority of primary CNS tumors in adults are comprised of gliomas (astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas). The diagnosis has historically been based on the histologic appearance of these tumors. However, as molecular data have accumulated over the years, there is considerable evidence that the molecular diversity (even within the same diagnostic entity) may account for the heterogeneity of clinical outcomes, such as response to treatment, time to progression and overall survival after diagnosis. These molecular markers are becoming more useful in the field of neuro-oncology. They can assist in diagnosis, provide prognostic information and potentially predict response to therapy. Perhaps the greatest potential for these molecular aberrations is that they may represent therapeutic targets themselves. In this article, we summarize the findings of important, published biomarker studies in adult gliomas and provide an overview of the practical uses of these markers in the clinical setting, as well as the current understanding of molecular gliomagenesis.