Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant type of glioma. Integrated classification based on mRNA expression microarrays and whole-genome methylation subdivides GBM into five subtypes: Classical, Mesenchymal, Neural, Proneural-CpG island methylator phenotype (G-CIMP) and Proneural-non G-CIMP. Biomarkers that can be used to predict prognosis in each subtype have not been systematically investigated.

In the present study, we used Cox regression and risk-score analysis to construct respective prognostic microRNA (miRNA) signatures in the five intrinsic subtypes of primary glioblastoma in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset.

Patients who had high-risk scores had poor overall survival compared with patients who had low-risk scores. The prognostic miRNA signature for the Mesenchymal subtype (four risky miRNAs: miR-373, miR-296, miR-191, miR-602; one protective miRNA: miR-223) was further validated in an independent cohort containing 41 samples.

We report novel diagnostic tools for deeper prognostic sub-stratification in GBM intrinsic subtypes based upon miRNA expression profiles and believe that such signature could lead to more individualized therapies to improve survival rates and provide a potential platform for future studies on gene treatment for GBM.