title: The tumor biology and molecular characteristics of medulloblastoma identifying prognostic factors associated with survival outcomes and prognosis.
abstract: Medulloblastomas (MB) are highly aggressive primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) usually located in the posterior fossa. Current treatment for MBs, which includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, remain challenging especially in younger patients. However, advances in the understanding of regulatory pathways in cerebellar development have elucidated possible areas of dysfunction involved in tumorigenesis. Multiple studies have demonstrated the importance of the sonic hedgehog, Wnt, and Notch pathways in MB pathogenesis at the molecular level. While staging and prognosis are often based on the Chang classification system, future algorithms will involve identifying molecular markers in order to allow for more specific risk stratifications of various MB subtypes and provide improved correlation with staging and prognosis. Future development of novel therapies that target the heterogeneity of MB and are tailored to the tumor's unique molecular profile may yield improved outcomes for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, 695 Charles E. Young Drive South, Gonda 3357, Los Angeles, California 90095-1761, USA.
authors.forename: Won
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Winward
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dye
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safaee
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome