IDH1 p.R132H ctDNA and D-2-hydroxyglutarate as CSF biomarkers in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas

Introduction We aimed to evaluate IDH1 p.R132H mutation and 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as biomarkers for patients with IDH-mutant gliomas. Methods CSF was collected from patients with infiltrating glioma, and 2HG levels were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. IDH1 p.R132H mutant allele frequency (MAF) in CSF-ctDNA was measured by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). Tumor volume was measured from standard-of-care magnetic resonance images. Results The study included 48 patients, 6 with IDH-mutant and 42 with IDH-wildtype gliomas, and 57 samples, 9 from the patients with IDH-mutant and 48 from the patients with IDH-wildtype gliomas. ctDNA was detected in 7 of the 9 samples from patients with IDH-mutant glioma, and IDH1 p.R132H mutation was detected in 5 of the 7 samples. The MAF ranged from 0.3 to 39.95%. Total 2HG level, D-2HG level, and D/L-2HG ratio in CSF were significantly higher in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas than in patients with IDH-wildtype gliomas. D-2HG level and D/L-2HG ratio correlated with total tumor volume in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas but not in patients with IDH-wildtype gliomas. Conclusion Our results suggest that detection of IDH1 p.R132H mutation by ddPCR and increased D-2HG level in CSF may help identify IDH-mutant gliomas. Our results also suggest that D-2HG level and D/L-2HG ratio correlate with tumor volume in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas. Further prospective studies with larger cohorts are needed to validate these findings.