Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 mutational analyses and 2-hydroxyglutarate measurements in Wilms tumors

Metabolic adaptations in cancers expressing isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations

The most frequently mutated metabolic genes in human cancer are those encoding the enzymes isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and IDH2; these mutations have so far been identified in more than 20 tumor types. Since IDH mutations were first reported in glioma over a decade ago, extensive research has revealed their association with altered cellular processes. Mutations in IDH lead to a change in enzyme function, enabling efficient conversion of 2-oxoglutarate to R-2-hydroxyglutarate (R-2-HG). It is proposed that elevated cellular R-2-HG inhibits enzymes that regulate transcription and metabolism, subsequently affecting nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial biochemistry. The significance of these biochemical changes for tumorigenesis and potential for therapeutic exploitation remains unclear. Here we comprehensively review reported direct and indirect metabolic changes linked to IDH mutations and discuss their clinical significance. We also review the metabolic effects of first-generation mutant IDH inhibitors and highlight the potential for combination treatment strategies and new metabolic targets.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase gene variants in cancer and their clinical significance

Human isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes encode for the IDH1, 2 & 3 isoenzymes which catalyse the formation of 2-oxoglutarate from isocitrate and are essential for normal mammalian metabolism. Although mutations in these genes in cancer were long thought to lead to a 'loss of function', combined genomic and metabolomic studies led to the discovery that a common IDH 1 mutation, present in low-grade glioma and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), yields a variant (R132H) with a striking change of function leading to the production of (2R)-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) which consequently accumulates in large quantities both within and outside cells. Elevated 2HG is proposed to promote tumorigenesis, although the precise mechanism by which it does this remains uncertain. Inhibitors of R132H IDH1, and other subsequently identified cancer-linked 2HG producing IDH variants, are approved for clinical use in the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant AML, though resistance enabled by additional substitutions has emerged. In this review, we provide a current overview of cancer linked IDH mutations focussing on their distribution in different cancer types, the effects of substitution mutations on enzyme activity, the mode of action of recently developed inhibitors, and their relationship with emerging resistance-mediating double mutations.

Normalization of metabolic data to total thymine content and its application to determination of 2-hydroxyglutarate

Our first objective was to develop an approach useful for reliable normalization of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) intracellular levels. The second objective was to use our data normalization strategy to verify previously published report on the higher d-2-HG level in tumors of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients than in normal colon fragments. We examined various methods of 2-HG level normalization in cell/tissue extracts (number of cells, mass of tissue, total protein). In order to solve the problems with reliable normalization of the 2-HG levels in colon fragments, we proposed a strategy based on relating the concentrations of 2-HG isomers to total thymine concentrations measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with UV detection in acid hydrolysates of the cell/tissue extracts. We used a common method of derivatization with diacetyl-l-tartaric anhydride (DATAN) to separate l- and d-2-HG enantiomers. DATAN-derivatized 2-HG was quantitated by UPLC with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. We observed a linear dependence of the total amount of thymine released from lymphocytes, HCT 116, K562, and PC-3 by acid hydrolysis on their number of cells. Our results showed a significantly higher level of l- and d-2-HG in cancer-free colon than in tumor.

Quantitative Analysis of Oncometabolite 2-Hydroxyglutarate

Gain-of-function mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) were demonstrated to induce the production and accumulation of oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). 2HG is a potent competitor of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and can inhibit multiple α-KG-dependent dioxygenases that are critical for regulating the metabolic and epigenetic state of cells. The accumulation of 2HG contributes to elevated risk of malignant tumors. 2HG carries an asymmetric carbon atom in its carbon backbone and therefore occurs in two enantiomers, D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2HG) and L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2HG). Each enantiomer is produced and metabolized in independent biochemical pathway and catalyzed by different enzymes. The accurate diagnosis of 2HG-related diseases relies on determining the configuration of the two enantiomers. Quantitative methods for analysis of D-2HG and L-2HG have been well developed. These analytical strategies mainly include the use of chiral chromatography medium to facilitate chromatographic separation of enantiomers prior to spectroscopy or mass spectrometry analysis and the use of chiral derivatization reagents to convert the enantiomers to diastereomers with differential physical and chemical properties that can improve their chromatographic separation. Here, we summarize and discuss these established methods for analysis of total 2HG as well as the determination of the enantiomers of D-2HG and L-2HG.

Functional Assessment of Lipoyltransferase-1 Deficiency in Cells, Mice, and Humans

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) link metabolic defects to human phenotypes. Modern genomics has accelerated IEM discovery, but assessing the impact of genomic variants is still challenging. Here, we integrate genomics and metabolomics to identify a cause of lactic acidosis and epilepsy. The proband is a compound heterozygote for variants in LIPT1, which encodes the lipoyltransferase required for 2-ketoacid dehydrogenase (2KDH) function. Metabolomics reveals abnormalities in lipids, amino acids, and 2-hydroxyglutarate consistent with loss of multiple 2KDHs. Homozygous knockin of a LIPT1 mutation reduces 2KDH lipoylation in utero and results in embryonic demise. In patient fibroblasts, defective 2KDH lipoylation and function are corrected by wild-type, but not mutant, LIPT1 alleles. Isotope tracing reveals that LIPT1 supports lipogenesis and balances oxidative and reductive glutamine metabolism. Altogether, the data extend the role of LIPT1 in metabolic regulation and demonstrate how integrating genomics and metabolomics can uncover broader aspects of IEM pathophysiology.

Ascorbic acid-induced TET activation mitigates adverse hydroxymethylcytosine loss in renal cell carcinoma

Although clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has been shown to result in widespread aberrant cytosine methylation and loss of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), the prognostic impact and therapeutic targeting of this epigenetic aberrancy has not been fully explored. Analysis of 576 primary ccRCC samples demonstrated that loss of 5hmC was strongly associated with aggressive clinicopathologic features and was an independent adverse prognostic factor. Loss of 5hmC also predicted reduced progression-free survival after resection of nonmetastatic disease. The loss of 5hmC in ccRCC was not due to mutational or transcriptional inactivation of ten eleven translocation (TET) enzymes, but to their functional inactivation by l-2-hydroxyglutarate (L2HG), which was overexpressed due to the deletion and underexpression of L2HG dehydrogenase (L2HGDH). Ascorbic acid (AA) reduced methylation and restored genome-wide 5hmC levels via TET activation. Fluorescence quenching of the recombinant TET-2 protein was unaffected by L2HG in the presence of AA. Pharmacologic AA treatment led to reduced growth of ccRCC in vitro and reduced tumor growth in vivo, with increased intratumoral 5hmC. These data demonstrate that reduced 5hmC is associated with reduced survival in ccRCC and provide a preclinical rationale for exploring the therapeutic potential of high-dose AA in ccRCC.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 mutations correlate with leukemic transformation and are predicted by 2-hydroxyglutarate in myelodysplastic syndromes

PURPOSE

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of hematologic disorders characterized by the presence of somatically mutated hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that increase the risk of progression to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML). Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH^mut) are thought to correlate with the increased production of the oncogenic protein 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) in AML. The aim of this study was to examine whether serum 2-HG has utility as a prognostic biomarker, and whether elevated 2-HG levels are predictive of IDH mutations in patients with MDS.

METHODS

Genetic profiling was utilized to determine the genetic composition of a large cohort of MDS patients, including the presence or absence of IDH1 or IDH2 mutations (n = 281). Serum 2-HG levels were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

In the current study of MDS patients, elevated serum 2-HG levels were predictive of inferior overall- and leukemia-free survival irrespective of IPSS risk grouping. Higher serum 2-HG levels predicted the presence of IDH mutations. IDH2^mut patients had a higher risk of leukemic transformation. The co-occurrence of DNMT3A or SRSF2 mutations was found to be increased in IDH2^mut patients. IDH2 mutations were associated with significantly worse OS and LFS amongst patients with low-risk MDS by IPSS grouping.

CONCLUSIONS

The noted predictive value of serum 2-HG levels and IDH2 mutations on OS and LFS support the use of biomarkers and/or underlying cytogenetics in novel prognostic scoring systems for MDS.

Oncometabolites: A New Paradigm for Oncology, Metabolism, and the Clinical Laboratory

BACKGROUND

Pediatric clinical laboratories commonly measure tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of specific inborn errors of metabolism, such as organic acidurias. In the past decade, the same tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites have been implicated and studied in cancer. The accumulation of these metabolites in certain cancers not only serves as a biomarker but also directly contributes to cellular transformation, therefore earning them the designation of oncometabolites.

CONTENT

D-2-hydroxyglutarate, L-2-hydroxyglutarate, succinate, and fumarate are the currently recognized oncometabolites. They are structurally similar and share metabolic proximity in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. As a result, they promote tumorigenesis in cancer cells through similar mechanisms. This review summarizes the currently understood common and distinct biological features of these compounds. In addition, we will review the current laboratory methodologies that can be used to quantify these metabolites and their downstream targets.

SUMMARY

Oncometabolites play an important role in cancer biology. The metabolic pathways that lead to the production of oncometabolites and the downstream signaling pathways that are activated by oncometabolites represent potential therapeutic targets. Clinical laboratories have a critical role to play in the management of oncometabolite-associated cancers through development and validation of sensitive and specific assays that measure oncometabolites and their downstream effectors. These assays can be used as screening tools and for follow-up to measure response to treatment, as well as to detect minimal residual disease and recurrence.

Mutant IDH1 regulates the tumor-associated immune system in gliomas

Amankulor et al. created a syngeneic pair mouse model for mutant IDH1 (muIDH1) and wild-type IDH1 (wtIDH1) gliomas and demonstrated that IDH1 mutations caused down-regulation of leukocyte chemotaxis, resulting in repression of the tumor-associated immune system.

Gliomas harboring mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) have the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) and significantly longer patient survival time than wild-type IDH1/2 (wtIDH1/2) tumors. Although there are many factors underlying the differences in survival between these two tumor types, immune-related differences in cell content are potentially important contributors. In order to investigate the role of IDH mutations in immune response, we created a syngeneic pair mouse model for mutant IDH1 (muIDH1) and wtIDH1 gliomas and demonstrated that muIDH1 mice showed many molecular and clinical similarities to muIDH1 human gliomas, including a 100-fold higher concentration of 2-hydroxygluratate (2-HG), longer survival time, and higher CpG methylation compared with wtIDH1. Also, we showed that IDH1 mutations caused down-regulation of leukocyte chemotaxis, resulting in repression of the tumor-associated immune system. Given that significant infiltration of immune cells such as macrophages, microglia, monocytes, and neutrophils is linked to poor prognosis in many cancer types, these reduced immune infiltrates in muIDH1 glioma tumors may contribute in part to the differences in aggressiveness of the two glioma types.

Measurement of Oncometabolites D-2-Hydroxyglutaric Acid and L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Acid

We describe a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for measurement of D-2-hydroxyglutaric acid and L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid. These metabolites are increased in specific inborn errors of metabolism and are now recognized as oncometabolites. The measurement of D-2-hydroxyglutarate in peripheral blood may be used as a biomarker for screening and follow-up of patients with IDH-mutated acute myeloid leukemia.

Quantitative metabolic flux analysis reveals an unconventional pathway of fatty acid synthesis in cancer cells deficient for the mitochondrial citrate transport protein

The mitochondrial citrate transport protein (CTP), encoded by SLC25A1, accommodates bidirectional trafficking of citrate between the mitochondria and cytosol, supporting lipid biosynthesis and redox homeostasis. Genetic CTP deficiency causes a fatal neurodevelopmental syndrome associated with the accumulation of L- and D-2-hydroxyglutaric acid, and elevated CTP expression is associated with poor prognosis in several types of cancer, emphasizing the importance of this transporter in multiple human pathologies. Here we describe the metabolic consequences of CTP deficiency in cancer cells. As expected from the phenotype of CTP-deficient humans, somatic CTP loss in cancer cells induces broad dysregulation of mitochondrial metabolism, resulting in accumulation of lactate and of the L- and D- enantiomers of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) and depletion of TCA cycle intermediates. It also eliminates mitochondrial import of citrate from the cytosol. To quantify the impact of CTP deficiency on metabolic flux, cells were cultured with a set of ¹³C-glucose and ¹³C-glutamine tracers with resulting data integrated by metabolic flux analysis (MFA). CTP-deficient cells displayed a major restructuring of central carbon metabolism, including suppression of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and induction of glucose-dependent anaplerosis through pyruvate carboxylase (PC). We also observed an unusual lipogenic pathway in which carbon from glucose supplies mitochondrial production of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), which is then trafficked to the cytosol and used to supply reductive carboxylation by isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1). The resulting citrate is cleaved to produce lipogenic acetyl-CoA, thereby completing a novel pathway of glucose-dependent reductive carboxylation. In CTP deficient cells, IDH1 inhibition suppresses lipogenesis from either glucose or glutamine, implicating IDH1 as a required component of fatty acid synthesis in states of CTP deficiency.

Subcortical DNET in a Patient With an Enzymatic Deficiency: A Rare Case and Review of the Literature

PURPOSE

This case report describes a toddler with a medical history of biotinidase deficiency who presented with atypical seizures due to a brain tumor.

METHODS

This is a case report.

RESULTS

Electroencephalogram revealed a frontal lobe mass, with magnetic resonance imaging confirmation of a mass extending from the frontal lobe into the genu and anterior corpus callosum. She underwent a near-total resection, and pathology identified a dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor. The patient is now seizure free and clinically doing well.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with biotinidase deficiency and atypical seizures should receive a full electroencephalogram evaluation, as brain tumors continue to be on the differential for seizures in this patient population.

D2HGDH regulates alpha-ketoglutarate levels and dioxygenase function by modulating IDH2

Isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDH) convert isocitrate to alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG). In cancer, mutant IDH1/2 reduces α-KG to D2-hydroxyglutarate (D2-HG) disrupting α-KG-dependent dioxygenases. However, the physiological relevance of controlling the interconversion of D2-HG into α-KG, mediated by D2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase (D2HGDH), remains obscure. Here we show that wild-type D2HGDH elevates α-KG levels, influencing histone and DNA methylation, and HIF1α hydroxylation. Conversely, the D2HGDH mutants that we find in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are enzymatically inert. D2-HG is a low-abundance metabolite, but we show that it can meaningfully elevate α-KG levels by positively modulating mitochondrial IDH activity and inducing IDH2 expression. Accordingly, genetic depletion of IDH2 abrogates D2HGDH effects, whereas ectopic IDH2 rescues D2HGDH-deficient cells. Our data link D2HGDH to cancer and describe an additional role for the enzyme: the regulation of IDH2 activity and α-KG-mediated epigenetic remodelling. These data further expose the intricacies of mitochondrial metabolism and inform on the pathogenesis of D2HGDH-deficient diseases.

Enigmas of IDH mutations in hematology/oncology

The discovery of oncogenic mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) enzymes has highlighted the delicate interplay of metabolism, cellular signaling, and transcriptional regulation that was off-focus for some time in the genomic era. Although IDH inhibitors are being evaluated for clinical efficacy, an in-depth understanding of disease pathogenesis linked to IDH mutations is required to develop rational combination treatments and to be evaluated in the clinic. To gain such an understanding, several questions need to be addressed: Why do IDH mutations occur selectively in subsets of a disease entity although they are found to be present in a very heterogeneous set of unrelated tumors? Why are 2-hydroxyglutarate-producing tumors specifically selected for the R-enantiomer and not for the S-enantiomer? Are the changes in 2-hydroxyglutarate-induced DNA methylation primary or secondary alterations in tumorigenesis? What are the roles of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and its prolyl 4-hydroxylases in IDH-mutant tumors? Here, we address these questions and discuss the consequences for basic and clinical research related to IDH-mutant tumors.

Oxidation of alpha-ketoglutarate is required for reductive carboxylation in cancer cells with mitochondrial defects

Mammalian cells generate citrate by decarboxylating pyruvate in the mitochondria to supply the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. In contrast, hypoxia and other impairments of mitochondrial function induce an alternative pathway that produces citrate by reductively carboxylating α-ketoglutarate (AKG) via NADPH-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH). It is unknown how cells generate reducing equivalents necessary to supply reductive carboxylation in the setting of mitochondrial impairment. Here, we identified shared metabolic features in cells using reductive carboxylation. Paradoxically, reductive carboxylation was accompanied by concomitant AKG oxidation in the TCA cycle. Inhibiting AKG oxidation decreased reducing equivalent availability and suppressed reductive carboxylation. Interrupting transfer of reducing equivalents from NADH to NADPH by nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase increased NADH abundance and decreased NADPH abundance while suppressing reductive carboxylation. The data demonstrate that reductive carboxylation requires bidirectional AKG metabolism along oxidative and reductive pathways, with the oxidative pathway producing reducing equivalents used to operate IDH in reverse.

The emerging role of d-2-hydroxyglutarate as an oncometabolite in hematolymphoid and central nervous system neoplasms

Approximately 20% of unselected cases and 30% cytogenetically diploid cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 80% of grade II–III gliomas and secondary glioblastomas carry mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and 2 genes. IDH1/2 mutations prevent oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and modulate the function of IDH (neomorphic activity) thereby facilitating reduction of α-KG to D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2HG), a putative oncometabolite. D-2HG is thought to act as a competitive inhibitor of α-KG-dependent dioxygenases that include prolyl hydroxylases and chromatin-modifying enzymes. The end result is a global increase of cellular DNA hypermethylation and alterations of the cellular epigenetic state, which has been proposed to play a role in the development of a variety of tumors. In this review, we provide an update on potential molecular mechanisms linking IDH1/2 mutations and the resulting oncometabolite, D-2HG, with malignant transformation. In addition, in patients with AML and glioma we focus on the associations between IDH1/2 mutations and clinical, morphologic, cytogenetic, and molecular characteristics.

IDH mutations in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterogeneous group of diseases. Mutations of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes represent a novel class of point mutations in acute myeloid leukemia. These mutations prevent oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate and confer novel enzymatic activity, facilitating the reduction of α-ketoglutarate to d-2-hydroxyglutarate, a putative oncometabolite. IDH1/IDH2 mutations are heterozygous, and their combined frequency is approximately 17% in unselected acute myeloid leukemia cases, 27% in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia cases, and up to 67% in acute myeloid leukemia cases with cuplike nuclei. These mutations are largely mutually exclusive. Despite many similarities of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations, it is possible that they represent distinct molecular or clinical subgroups of acute myeloid leukemia. All known mutations involve arginine (R), in codon 132 of IDH1 or codon 140 or 172 of IDH2. IDH1(R132) and IDH2(R140) mutations are frequently accompanied by normal cytogenetics and NPM1 mutation, whereas IDH2(R172) is frequently the only mutation detected in acute myeloid leukemia. There is increasing evidence that the prognostic impact of IDH1/2 mutations varies according to the specific mutation and also depends on the context of concurrent mutations of other genes. IDH1(R132) mutation may predict poor outcome in a subset of patients with molecular low-risk acute myeloid leukemia, whereas IDH2(R172) mutations confer a poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Expression of IDH1/2 mutants induces an increase in global DNA hypermethylation and inhibits TET2-induced cytosine 5-hydroxymethylation, DNA demethylation. These data suggest that IDH1/2 mutations constitute a distinct mutational class in acute myeloid leukemia, which affects the epigenetic state, an important consideration for the development of therapeutic agents.

Immunohistochemical expression of GLUT1 and its correlation with unfavorable histology and TP53 codon 72 polymorphism in Wilms tumors

Reprogramming of energy metabolism, such as increased glycolysis, is a hallmark of cancer cells. One mechanism by which cancer cells fuel glycolysis is through increased uptake of glucose across cell membranes via the glucose transporter GLUT1. One of the transcriptional repressors of GLUT1 is wild-type TP53, and cancer-associated loss of function mutations within the DNA-binding domain of TP53 impairs the repressive effect of TP53 on transcriptional activity of the GLUT1 gene promoter. Because TP53 mutations are associated with unfavorable histology (diffuse anaplasia) in Wilms tumors, we hypothesized increased expression of GLUT1 in these tumors. To evaluate this hypothesis, we performed tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry for GLUT1 in a set of 50 Wilms tumors, including 5 with unfavorable histology. In a subset of 16 favorable histology Wilms tumors, we compared the GLUT1 immunoexpression with TP53 codon 72 polymorphism status. We found consistently stronger immunoexpression of GLUT1 in unfavorable histology Wilms tumors compared to favorable histology Wilms tumors (P  =  0.04). We noted that the favorable histology Wilms tumors with a proline residue at position 72 of TP53 tended to have higher immunoexpression of GLUT1, although this immunoexpression did not reach statistical significance in this small set of cases. In summary, our finding of strong GLUT1 immunoexpression in unfavorable histology Wilms tumors indicates that these tumors are likely to be 2-deoxy-2-((18)F)fluoro-d-glucose avid and that GLUT1 should be evaluated as a therapeutic target for these tumors that otherwise show resistance to conventional therapy.

Progress in understanding 2-hydroxyglutaric acidurias

The organic acidurias D: -2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D-2-HGA), L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA), and combined D,L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D,L-2-HGA) cause neurological impairment at young age. Accumulation of D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2-HG) and/or L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2-HG) in body fluids are the biochemical hallmarks of these disorders. The current review describes the knowledge gathered on 2-hydroxyglutaric acidurias (2-HGA), since the description of the first patients in 1980. We report on the clinical, genetic, enzymatic and metabolic characterization of D-2-HGA type I, D-2-HGA type II, L-2-HGA and D,L-2-HGA, whereas for D-2-HGA type I and type II novel clinical information is presented which was derived from questionnaires.

2-hydroxyglutarate detection by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in IDH-mutated patients with gliomas

Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1, 2) have been demonstrated in the majority of World Health Organization grade 2 and grade 3 gliomas in adults. These mutations are associated with the accumulation of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) within the tumor. Here we report the noninvasive detection of 2HG by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The pulse sequence was developed and optimized with numerical and phantom analyses for 2HG detection. The concentrations of 2HG were estimated using spectral fitting in the tumors of 30 patients. Detection of 2HG correlated with mutations in IDH1 or IDH2 and with increased levels of D-2HG by mass spectrometry of resected tumor. Noninvasive detection of 2HG may prove to be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation hot spots in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and oral cancer

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) encodes a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate+-dependent enzyme for oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate and has an essential role in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Mutations of IDH1 and IDH2 have been identified in patients with glioma, leukemia, and other cancers. However, the incidence of IDH mutations in acute myeloid leukemia in Taiwan is much lower than that reported in Western countries. The reason for the difference is unknown and its clinical implications remain unclear. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogenous hematopoietic malignancy. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) results from chronic carcinogen exposures and is highly prevalent in trucking workers, especially in southern Taiwan. Subtypes of both diseases require specific treatments, and molecular markers for developing tailored treatments are limited. High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis is now a widely used methodology for rapid, accurate, and low-cost mutation scanning. In this study, 90 adults with OSC and 31 children with ALL were scanned by HRM analysis for IDH1 and IDH2 mutation hot spots. In ALL, the allele frequency was 3.23% in both IDH1 and IDH2. In OSCC, the allele frequency was 2.22% in IDH2. A synonymous mutation over pG313 (c.939A > G) of IDH2 was found in both pediatric ALL and adult OSCC. Therefore, we concluded that mutations of IDH are uncommon in ALL and OSCC and are apparently not a major consideration when selecting treatment modalities.

Identification of additional IDH mutations associated with oncometabolite R(-)-2-hydroxyglutarate production

Mutations in cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) or its mitochondrial homolog IDH2 can lead to R(-)-2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) production. To date, mutations in three active site arginine residues, IDH1 R132, IDH2 R172 and IDH2 R140, have been shown to result in the neomorphic production of 2HG. Here we report on three additional 2HG-producing IDH1 mutations: IDH1 R100, which is affected in adult glioma, IDH1 G97, which is mutated in colon cancer cell lines and pediatric glioblastoma, and IDH1 Y139. All these new mutants stereospecifically produced 2HG's (R) enantiomer. In contrast, we find that the IDH1 SNPs V71I and V178I, as well as a number of other single-sample reports of IDH non-synonymous mutation, did not elevate cellular 2HG levels in cells and retained the wild-type ability for isocitrate-dependent NADPH production. Finally, we report the existence of additional rare, but recurring mutations found in lymphoma and thyroid cancer, which while failing to elevate 2HG nonetheless displayed loss of function, indicating a possible tumorigenic mechanism for a non-2HG-producing subset of IDH mutations in some malignancies. These data broaden our understanding of how IDH mutations may contribute to cancer through either neomorphic R(-)-2HG production or reduced wild-type enzymatic activity, and highlight the potential value of metabolite screening in identifying IDH-mutated tumors associated with elevated oncometabolite levels.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations in diffuse gliomas: clinical and aetiological implications

The discovery of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations in gliomas is one example of the large impact that next-generation sequencing is having on the understanding of tumour biology and human disease in general. IDH mutations are early and common events in the development of astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas. IDH mutations are also found in some myeloid malignancies and soft tissue tumours, but are rare in other malignancies. IDH mutation detection can be incorporated into routine pathology practice via immunohistochemistry and/or standard sequencing techniques and has great diagnostic value. An emerging theme is that IDH mutation status in gliomas is of great prognostic relevance, and there are proposals to include IDH mutation status in the next iteration of the WHO classification of gliomas. The mechanisms of action(s) of mutant IDH are not fully understood, but the understanding is progressing rapidly, and may provide a mechanism to link diverse proneoplastic processes such as oxidative damage and epigenetic dysregulation. There are exciting prospects of novel therapies for glioma patients emerging from the elucidation of these mechanisms. Given the diagnostic and prognostic implications of IDH mutation, and the potential for new therapies, all gliomas should be assessed for IDH mutation status in the future.