The Concept of «Peritumoral Zone» in Diffuse Low-Grade Gliomas: Oncological and Functional Implications for a Connectome-Guided Therapeutic Attitude

Abstract

Diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs) are heterogeneous and poorly circumscribed neoplasms with isolated tumor cells that extend beyond the margins of the lesion depicted on MRI. Efforts to demarcate the glioma core from the surrounding healthy brain led us to define an intermediate region, the so-called peritumoral zone (PTZ). Although most studies about PTZ have been conducted on high-grade gliomas, the purpose here is to review the cellular, metabolic, and radiological characteristics of PTZ in the specific context of DLGG. A better delineation of PTZ, in which glioma cells and neural tissue strongly interact, may open new therapeutic avenues to optimize both functional and oncological results. First, a connectome-based “supratotal” surgical resection (i.e., with the removal of PTZ in addition to the tumor core) resulted in prolonged survival by limiting the risk of malignant transformation, while improving the quality of life, thanks to a better control of seizures. Second, the timing and order of (neo)adjuvant medical treatments can be modulated according to the pattern of peritumoral infiltration. Third, the development of new drugs specifically targeting the PTZ could be considered from an oncological (such as immunotherapy) and epileptological perspective. Further multimodal investigations of PTZ are needed to maximize long-term outcomes in DLGG patients.

Keywords

• low-grade glioma
• peritumoral zone
• surgery
• brain connectome
• epilepsy
• quality of life