Some patients with glioblastoma respond to the alkylating agent temozolomide while others do not. The activity of the enzyme O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) correlates with tumor response to these agents.
Patient selection: glioblastoma multiforme
MGMT is a DNA repair gene that can reverse damage done by alkylating agents.
The function of MGMT may be lost if there is hypermethylation of the MGMT promoter region in the tumor. This is termed epigenetic silencing.
Method of analysis: methylation-specific PCR analysis
Methylation of Promoter Region for MGMT
Activity of MGMT
Response to Therapy with Temozolomide
low
high
low
intermediate
intermediate
intermediate
high
low
high
A patient with low MGMT activity tends to respond better to therapy and to have a better survival than a patient high levels of MGMT activity.
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