Background
Although methylation of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene promoter predicts response to temozolomide in patients with glioblastoma, no consensus exists as to which assay is best for its detection. Materials and
Conclusion
PSQ is the method of choice for MGMT promoter methylation analysis in routine clinical practice.
Methods
Methylation of MGMT promoter was examined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), quantitative real-time MSP, methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis, and two commercial pyrosequencing (PSQ) kits. Survival was compared among 48 patients with glioblastoma according to assay
Results
Only PSQ and MSP significantly separated patients who benefited from temozolomide, with PSQ being the superior method. For PSQ analysis, the cut-off value that best correlated with prognostic outcome was 7% methylation of MGMT. Median survival in patients with MGMT promoter methylation above this cut-off value was 7.8 months longer compared to those with less than 7% methylation. Two-year overall survival for the two groups was 42% and 7.4%, respectively.