Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 7, 2026
Digital Spatial Profiling for Characterization of the Microenvironment in Adult-Type Diffusely Infiltrating Glioma
Published on: September 13, 2022
Direct subventricular zone contact and quantitative tumor-SVZ distance in adult diffuse gliomas: A retrospective
Samet Dinc1, Omer Selcuk Sahin1
1University of Health Sciences, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, 06110, Turkey.
Objective:
To evaluate whether direct subventricular zone (SVZ) contact and quantitative tumor-SVZ distance among non-contacting tumors are independently associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in adult diffuse gliomas, and to explore the association between SVZ proximity and recurrence topography.
Methods:
This retrospective single-center cohort included 80 adults with WHO grade 2-4 diffuse gliomas. Direct SVZ contact was defined as a tumor-SVZ distance of 0 mm; distance among non-contacting tumors was analyzed continuously. Cox models were adjusted for age, WHO grade, and IDH mutation status, with grade-stratified sensitivity analyses. Fine-Gray regression explored the association between SVZ proximity (≤5 mm) and non-local first recurrence.
Results:
Direct SVZ contact was present in 43 patients, while 37 had non-contacting tumors. After adjustment, neither direct SVZ contact nor continuous distance among non-contacting tumors was significantly associated with OS (HR 1.43, 95% CI 0.49-4.20, p = 0.518; HR 1.02 per 1-mm increase, 95% CI 0.95-1.10, p = 0.585) or PFS (HR 1.94, 95% CI 0.68-5.51, p = 0.213; HR 1.01 per 1-mm increase, 95% CI 0.94-1.08, p = 0.848). Grade-stratified analyses were consistent with the primary findings. SVZ proximity was associated with a higher subdistribution hazard of non-local first recurrence (SHR 2.23, 95% CI 1.01-4.90, p = 0.046).
Conclusion:
Neither direct SVZ contact nor quantitative distance among non-contacting tumors showed a statistically significant independent association with OS or PFS. Wide confidence intervals and the limited sample size preclude definitive exclusion of clinically relevant associations. The association between SVZ proximity and non-local recurrence should be considered exploratory and requires external validation.
