T2-FLAIR Mismatch Sign Predicts DNA Methylation Subclass and CDKN2A/B Status in IDH-Mutant Astrocytomas

DNA methylation profiling stratifies isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant astrocytomas into methylation low- and high-grade groups. We investigated the utility of the T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR) mismatch sign for predicting DNA methylation grade and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B (CDKN2A/B) homozygous deletion, a molecular biomarker for grade 4 IDH-mutant astrocytomas, according to the 2021 World Health Organization classification.

Preoperative MRI scans of IDH-mutant astrocytomas subclassified by DNA methylation profiling (n = 71) were independently evaluated by two radiologists for the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign. The diagnostic utility of T2-FLAIR mismatch in predicting methylation grade, CDKN2A/B status, copy number variation, and survival was analyzed.

The T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was present in 21 of 45 (46.7%) methylation low-grade and 1 of 26 (3.9%) methylation high-grade cases (P < 0.001), resulting in 96.2% specificity, 95.5% positive predictive value, and 51.0% negative predictive value for predicting low methylation grade. The T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was also significantly associated with intact CDKN2A/B status (P = 0.028) with 87.5% specificity, 86.4% positive predictive value, and 42.9% negative predictive value. Overall multivariable Cox analysis showed that retained CDKN2A/B status remained significant for progression-free survival (P = 0.01). Multivariable Cox analysis of the histologic grade 3 subset, which was nearly evenly divided by CDKN2A/B status, copy number variation, and methylation grade, showed trends toward significance for DNA methylation grade with overall survival (P = 0.045) and CDKN2A/B status with progression-free survival (P = 0.052).

The T2-FLAIR mismatch sign is highly specific for low methylation grade and intact CDKN2A/B in IDH-mutant astrocytomas.