Oligodendroglioma pathophysiology

Molecular genetics
By far, the most common structural deformity found is co-deletion of chromosomal arms 1p and 19q. The high frequency of co-deletion (60-80%) is a striking feature of this glial tumour, and is considered as a "genetic signature" of oligodendroglioma. 1p/19q deletion has been correlated with both chemosensitivity and improved prognosis in oligodendrogliomas. A t(1;19)(q10;p10) translocation mediates the combined deletions of 1p and 19q. The gene products lost as a consequence of this codeletion may include mediators of resistance to genotoxic therapies. Alternatively, 1p/19q loss might be an early oncogenic lesion promoting the formation of glial neoplasms, which retain high sensitivity to genotoxic stress.