Tumor cell MGMT protein levels predict response to temozolomide treatment in glioblastoma patients

Promoter methylation was detected in 66% of glioblastoma patients, while MGMT protein expression was positive in 52% of cases.

• MGMT promoter methylation and protein expression were compared in 71 glioblastoma patients to predict response to temozolomide.
• Promoter methylation showed a significant correlation with protein expression, but some samples did not align with this relationship.
• In patients treated with temozolomide, MGMT protein expression was associated with a significantly shorter overall survival.
• In contrast, patients who did not receive temozolomide showed no differences in overall survival based on MGMT protein expression.
• These findings indicate that lack of MGMT protein expression may be a better predictor of temozolomide response than promoter methylation.

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