Prognostic significance of TERT promoter mutations in adult-type diffuse gliomas

TERT promoter mutations are one of the most common genetic alterations in adult-type diffuse gliomas and show specific patterns compared with other genetic alterations according to glioma subtypes. This mutation has variable impacts on patient outcomes in association with other genetic alterations, including IDH1/2 mutations or histological types. The purpose of this paper is to review the current knowledge on the values of TERT promoter mutations in the diagnosis and prognostication of adult-type diffuse gliomas. We also aimed to discuss the interaction between the prognostic impacts of TERT promoter mutations and other molecular alterations. Although its impact on prognosis is somewhat complicated and enigmatic, the mutational status of the TERT promoter provides highly useful information for predicting patients' outcomes in the conventional classification of gliomas defined by IDH1/2 and 1p/19q status.