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Impact of Molecular Biology Studies on the Understanding of Brain Tumors in Childhood

  • Pediatric Oncology (S Epelman, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Pediatric brain tumors are the second most common form of childhood malignancy. Brain tumors are a very heterogenous group of tumors and the pathogenesis of many of these tumors is yet to be clearly elucidated. Current diagnostic tools include histopathology and immunohistochemistry, but classification based on these means has significant limitations. As our understanding of the molecular biology of individual tumors continues to increase it has led to the identification of reliable and increasingly available molecular biomarkers. Molecular techniques are likely to complement current standard means of investigation and help not only overcome diagnostic challenges but may also result in better disease classification and risk stratification, leading to more personalized therapeutic approaches.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Amulya A. Nageswara Rao

  2. Brain Tumor Institute, Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Roger J. Packer

  3. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Roger J. Packer

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  1. Amulya A. Nageswara Rao
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  2. Roger J. Packer
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Correspondence to Amulya A. Nageswara Rao.

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Nageswara Rao, A.A., Packer, R.J. Impact of Molecular Biology Studies on the Understanding of Brain Tumors in Childhood. Curr Oncol Rep 14, 206–212 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-012-0214-3

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