IDH1/2 mutations in gliomas

The NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate into α-ketoglutarate (α-KG). IDH1 and IDH2 mutations have been frequently found in some types of gliomas (low-grade diffuse gliomas WHO grade II, anaplastic gliomas WHO grade III, and secondary glioblastomas WHO grade IV), and have received significant attention because of their specificity to single codons. Since the unveiling of IDH1/2 mutations, many studies have investigated their clinical impact on gliomas. While the favorable influence of these mutations in high-grade gliomas has been well established, their prognostic impact on low-grade diffuse gliomas is much less clear. While the mechanism of IDH1/2 mutations in gliomagenesis remains to be clarified, its elucidation might lead to novel therapeutic strategies against gliomas.