LAUSR

Abstract Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant embryonal brain tumor in children with only modest improvements in outcomes achieved over the last 20 years. The implementation of irradiation-avoiding strategies, including trials by the “Head Start” consortium, have demonstrated improved cure rates along with enhanced quality of life. Simultaneously, the classification of medulloblastomas has undergone a dramatic shift as molecular testing has made it possible to divide these tumors into distinctive subtypes. Currently, the WHO recognizes four medulloblastoma molecular subgroups; however it remains unclear how patients within these subgroups respond to modern irradiation-avoiding therapies. This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of prospective molecular profiling in medulloblastoma patients enrolled on the “Head Start 4” trial. Whole-exome sequencing (SureSelect Human All Exon V6+COSMIC) and DNA methylation (Illumina EPIC Array) profiling were performed on 10 paired tumor/blood samples and 4 tumor samples, respectively. High-quality mutational and copy number data were produced for each of the 10 subjects demonstrating well-described gene mutations (SUFU) and chromosomal losses (9q and 10q). Four subjects had methylation profiling which successfully separated them into the WHO subgroups (two SHH and two Group 3). These data showed the feasibility of prospective high-dimensional mutational and DNA methylation analysis using “Head Start 4” patients. Future work will focus on finalizing these profiling efforts, enabling the development of models that predict response to irradiation-avoiding treatment and, in general, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying treatment resistance and tumor progression, leading to more personalized approaches to treating children with medulloblastoma.