title: Molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma: the current consensus.
abstract: Medulloblastoma, a small blue cell malignancy of the cerebellum, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric oncology. Current mechanisms for clinical prognostication and stratification include clinical factors (age, presence of metastases, and extent of resection) as well as histological subgrouping (classic, desmoplastic, and large cell/anaplastic histology). Transcriptional profiling studies of medulloblastoma cohorts from several research groups around the globe have suggested the existence of multiple distinct molecular subgroups that differ in their demographics, transcriptomes, somatic genetic events, and clinical outcomes. Variations in the number, composition, and nature of the subgroups between studies brought about a consensus conference in Boston in the fall of 2010. Discussants at the conference came to a consensus that the evidence supported the existence of four main subgroups of medulloblastoma (Wnt, Shh, Group 3, and Group 4). Participants outlined the demographic, transcriptional, genetic, and clinical differences between the four subgroups. While it is anticipated that the molecular classification of medulloblastoma will continue to evolve and diversify in the future as larger cohorts are studied at greater depth, herein we outline the current consensus nomenclature, and the differences between the medulloblastoma subgroups.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. mdtaylor@sickkids.ca
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Taylor
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Northcott
authors: Andrey
authors: A
authors: Korshunov
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Remke
authors: Yoon-Jae
authors: YJ
authors: Cho
authors: Steven C
authors: SC
authors: Clifford
authors: Charles G
authors: CG
authors: Eberhart
authors: D Williams
authors: DW
authors: Parsons
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Rutkowski
authors: Amar
authors: A
authors: Gajjar
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Ellison
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lichter
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Gilbertson
authors: Scott L
authors: SL
authors: Pomeroy
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Kool
authors: Stefan M
authors: SM
authors: Pfister
mesh_terms: D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D032921:Consensus; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D059467:Transcriptome; D051153:Wnt Proteins
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C509239:SHH protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins