IDH1-R132H [MD151R] for Neuropathology

A member of this family, IDH1, is the human cytoplasmic NADP-specific enzyme. Its subcellular localization was shown to be in both peroxisomes and the cytoplasm. Although the function and structure of the protein has been well characterized, mutations in the gene have only recently been implicated in cancer after a genome-wide mutation study of giloblastomas, acute myeloid leukemias (AML) and chondrosarcomas. Mutations in IDH1 are specific to Arg132 (R132) and endow them with the function of generating 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) instead of aKG. This product alters gene transcription through effects on DNA and histone methylation. Several IDH1 mutations exist, including R132H, R132C, R132S, R132G and R132L. Each may result in different tumor type with varied malignant progression. The most frequent known mutation (>90%) is the alteration of arginine to histidine (R132H). Hence, antibodies that recognize the IDH1R132H mutation can be useful for the detection of mutation-bearing tumors like gliomas. The high frequency of IDH1 R132H mutation in lowgrade and anaplastic gliomas and secondary glioblastomas correlates with favorable patient survival times. Rational IDH1 R132H testing supports neuropathological differential assay. The high frequency and distribution of the IDH1 R132H mutation among specific brain tumor entities allow the highly sensitive and specific discrimination of various tumors by immunohistochemistry, such as anaplastic astrocytoma from primary glioblastoma or diffuse astrocytoma WHO grade II from pilocytic astrocytoma or ependymoma.