TERT mutations-associated alterations in clinical characteristics, immune environment and therapy response in glioblastomas

OBJECTIVE TERT: is the most frequently mutated gene in adult glioblastomas (GBMs) defined by the 2021 World Health Organization classification system. The present study aims to explore differences in clinical characteristics and immune microenvironment between TERT mutant and wild-type GBM. METHODS: Three GBM-related cohorts consisting of 205 GBM patients in our cohort, 463 GBM patients without immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI) therapy and 1465 tumour patients (including 92 GBM cases) receiving ICI treatment in the MSK cohort were included. Retrospective analysis and immunohistochemistry assay were used for investigating the local (including tumour cells, local immune cells, and seizures) and systemic (including circulating immune cells, coagulation-related functions, and prognosis) effects of TERT mutations. Besides, differences in genetic alterations and immunotherapy responses between TERT mutant and wild-type GBMs were also explored. RESULTS: We found that TERT mutant and wild-type GBMs possessed similar initial clinic symptoms, circulating immune microenvironment and immunotherapy response. With respect to that in TERT wild-type GBMs, mutations in TERT resulted in higher levels of tumour-infiltrating neutrophils, prolonged coagulation time, worse chemotherapy response and poorer overall survival. CONCLUSION: Mutations in TERT alter the local immune environment and decrease the sensitivity of GBM to chemotherapy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12672-023-00760-w.