GBMs may exhibit aberrant expression of various growth-control genes and their corresponding proteins, including mutant IDH1 (R132H) expression (IDH1+), loss of alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) expression (ATRX-) and p53 overexpression (p53+) [3]. Here, IDH1 is linked to alpha thalassemia spectrum.