Examine whether the status of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene is a risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in glioma patients.

The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is high for patients with gliomas (10-30%). Unfortunately, biomarkers and predictive models for development of a VTE in brain cancer have not been validated. Prior research has suggested that IDH wildtype gliomas are at higher risk for development of VTE compared to IDH mutant tumors.

We conducted a retrospective chart review of glioma patients enrolled in the PROACTIVE (Prospective Assessment of Correlative Biomarker) study at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC).  We obtained demographics, date of tumor diagnosis, initial pathology, IDH status (mutated or wildtype), extent of initial resection, KPS at time of  initial resection , history of VTE, development of VTE, type of VTE (PE/DVT), KPS at time of VTE, treatment for VTE, bleeding complications, glioma treatments, date of last follow up and/or death.

We identified 282 glioma patients consisting of 49 IDH mutant gliomas and 233 IDH wildtype gliomas. Glioblastoma was the histopathologic diagnosis in 30 (61.2%) of the IDH mutated glioma compared to 227(97.4%) of the IDH wild type gliomas. VTE was identified in 52 (18.4%) of patients. VTE was diagnosed in 7 (14.3%) of the IDH mutated gliomas compared to 45(19.3%) of the IDH wild type gliomas (p = 0.4094). Median time to VTE from diagnosis was 2.71 months. Median time to VTE from diagnosis was 2.6 months for IDH mutated gliomas compared to 3.06 months for the IDH wild type gliomas (p =0.8663).

IDH gene status did not appear as a significant risk factor for the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in our cohort of glioma patients. Further research into potential biomarkers for VTE may be warranted.