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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues
Published on: April 5, 2018
Divergent medulloblastoma chromatin states disclose KDM2B as a selective dependency
Ran Tao1,2, Serap Erkek-Ozhan3,4,5,6,7, Beisi Xu8
1Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
Abstract:
Medulloblastoma is a biologically heterogeneous childhood cerebellar tumor harboring frequent chromatin-modifying gene alterations. How these alterations promote transcriptional programs governing malignancy remains poorly defined. To address this knowledge gap, we evaluated chromatin states across medulloblastoma subgroups by multi-modal integration of histone modifications with mutational, DNA methylation and transcriptomic profiles. A bivalent/poised enhancer (EnhBiv) state was specifically enriched at the promoters of neurodevelopmental genes in Group 3/4 medulloblastoma. Integrative bioinformatics coupled with chromatin occupancy studies identified aberrant KDM2B binding at EnhBiv-enriched promoters. CRISPR-mediated knockout or acute protein degradation of KDM2B selectively suppressed the growth of medulloblastoma models in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, KDM2B promotes sequential recruitment of Polycomb repressive complexes (PRC1/PRC2) and EnhBiv chromatin, thereby repressing neuronal differentiation programs. Collectively, we provide foundational insights into an epigenetic basis of medulloblastoma, nominating KDM2B as a selective dependency in high-risk subgroups that warrants consideration as a candidate therapeutic target.
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