[Subgroup-specific genomic alterations and potential prognostic biomarkers in childhood medulloblastomas]

Despite continuing advances in therapeutic strategies, survival of childhood medulloblastoma (MB) patients has reached a plateau in the past decade. Current clinical approaches divide patients into average- and high-risk treatment categories, although this categorization does not take patient heterogeneity into account. Advanced genomics has initiated an exciting transition that lead to a consensus of four distinct molecular entities within MBs (WNT-activated, SHH-activated, Group 3 MB, and Group 4 MB), each with distinct origins, demographics, molecular alterations and clinical outcomes. Within each of the four primary subgroups additional subtypes started to emerge with distinct biological backgrounds and clinical outcomes. Here we summarize subgroup-specific genomic alterations, affected signaling pathways and potential prognostic biomarkers. The poor prognosis associated with recurrent disease is responsible for the stagnant survival rates. Nevertheless, the mortality is unlikely to change without new biomarkers linked to different mechanisms of pathway activation.