Table 1.

Genetics of astrocytoma, with an emphasis on spinal cord astrocytomas*

Gene	Locus	Location	Tumor Type	Comments
BRAF	7q34	Spinal cord > Brain	I, II	BRAF-KIAA1549 translocation, BRAF copy number gain, but not BRAF V600E mutation21,22
H3F3A	17q25	Spinal cord > Brain	III, IV	H3F3A K27M mutation found in mainly midline gliomas, including spinal cord21,23–26
CDKN2A	9q21	Spinal cord > Brain	All grades	More common in brainstem/spinal cord compared with other locations and associated with higher grades27,28
IDH1	2q33.3	Brain > Spinal cord	Grade III, IV	Mutations are thought to suggest secondary glioblastoma, with better prognosis.24,29 Much more prevalent in intracranial gliomas.
TP53	17p13	Brain > Spinal Cord	All grades	P53 mutations thought to be secondary and not driver mutations21

*Modified and adapted from Tendulkar et al³³ with permission.