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Racial distribution of molecularly classified brain tumors
Camila S Fang1, Wanyi Wang2, Chanel Schroff1
1Department of Pathology NYU Langone Health and NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Neuro-Oncology Advances
|September 2, 2024
Summary
Racial background significantly impacts brain tumor types. Black patients show higher rates of pituitary adenomas, while White patients are more frequently diagnosed with glioblastoma.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Genomics
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- Racial disparities exist in cancer prevalence, but data on molecular brain tumor subtypes across racial groups is limited.
- Current public repositories lack comprehensive data on brain tumor subtypes and WHO classification.
- Understanding racial distribution in brain tumors can offer insights into predisposition, development, and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the racial distribution of primary brain tumors based on molecular classification.
- To identify potential racial predispositions in specific brain tumor subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1709 primary brain tumors.
- Molecular classification using whole genome DNA methylation profiles.
- Analysis of self-reported race from medical records (82% White, 10% Black, 8% Asian).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in racial distribution were observed across brain tumor types.
- Black patients were overrepresented in pituitary adenomas (35%), particularly the FSH/LH subtype.
- White patients were underrepresented in pituitary adenomas (47%) but enriched in Glioblastoma (GBM) IDH wild-type (90%), with fewer Black patients (3%).
Conclusions:
- Molecularly classified brain tumors exhibit varying distributions across racial backgrounds.
- These findings suggest a potential contribution of race to brain tumor development and etiology.
