CDKN2A Homozygous Deletion Is a Stronger Predictor of Outcome than IDH1/2-Mutation in CNS WHO Grade 4 Gliomas

Background: We primarily investigated the prognostic role of CDKN2A homozygous deletion in CNS WHO grade 4 gliomas. Additionally, we plan to examine traditional prognostic factors for grade 4 gliomas and validate the findings. Materials: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the glioma cohorts at our institute. We reviewed medical records spanning a 15-year period and examined pathological slides for an updated diagnosis according to the 2021 WHO classification of CNS tumors. We examined the IDH1/2 mutation and CDKN2A deletion using NGS analysis with ONCOaccuPanel®. Further, we examined traditional prognostic factors, including age, WHO performance status, extent of resection, and MGMT promoter methylation status. Results: The mean follow-up duration was 27.5 months (range: 4.1–43.5 months) and mean overall survival (OS) was 20.7 months (SD, ±1.759). After the exclusion of six patients with a poor status of pathologic samples, a total of 136 glioblastoma cases diagnosed by previous WHO classification criteria were newly classified into 29 (21.3%) astrocytoma, IDH-mutant, and CNS WHO grade 4 cases, and 107 (78.7%) glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, and CNS WHO grade 4 cases. Among them, 61 (56.0%) had CDKN2A deletions. The high-risk group with CDKN2A deletion regardless of IDH1/2 mutation had a mean OS of 16.65 months (SD, ±1.554), the intermediate-risk group without CDKN2A deletion and with IDH1/2 mutation had a mean OS of 21.85 months (SD, ±2.082), and the low-risk group without CDKN2A deletion and with IDH1/2 mutation had a mean OS of 33.38 months (SD, ±2.946). Multifactor analysis showed that age (≥50 years vs. <50 years; HR 4.645), WHO performance (0, 1 vs. 2; HR 5.002), extent of resection (gross total resection vs. others; HR 5.528), MGMT promoter methylation, (methylated vs. unmethylated; HR 5.078), IDH1/2 mutation (mutant vs. wildtype; HR 6.352), and CDKN2A deletion (absence vs. presence; HR 13.454) were associated with OS independently. Conclusions: The present study suggests that CDKN2A deletion plays a powerful prognostic role in CNS WHO grade 4 gliomas. Even if CNS WHO grade 4 gliomas have mutant IDH1/2, they may have poor clinical outcomes because of CDKN2A deletion.