Gliomas Genomics and Epigenomics: Arriving at the Start and Knowing It for the First Time

Gliomas are the most common primary human brain tumors and occur in both adults and children. Over the past few years, systematic large-scale genomic and epigenomic profiling has provided unprecedented insight into their pathogenesis, uncovering alterations in an unanticipated number of genes and regulatory elements. In this review, we discuss recent discoveries about the genomics and epigenomics of adult and pediatric gliomas and highlight how some of the founding genetic mutations reshape the cancer epigenome. These studies provide an in-depth view of the molecular routes leading to glioma development, offer insight into the cancer stem cell model, help refine classifications, and should lay the foundation for improved clinical care.