Medulloblastoma, Molecularly Defined

2023-07-28   Scott Ryall, PhD 

1.Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston , MA (USA)

Classification

Definition

Historically, medulloblastoma had been segregated into four molecular subgroups: i) WNT-activated, ii) sonic hedgehog (SHH)-activated, iii) group 3, and iv) group 4. 1 Indeed, these subgroupings were the basis for a major diagnostic restructuring which was introduced in the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of CNS tumors. 2 The 2021 classification guidelines further revised these subgroups to acknowledge the evolving knowledge of their clinical and biological heterogeneity. 3 Here, they are segregated based on their molecular or histological features. Included in the “medulloblastoma, molecularly defined” category are: i) Medulloblastoma, WNT-activated, ii) Medulloblastoma, SHH-activated and TP53-wildtype, iii) Medulloblastoma, SHH-activated and TP53-mutant, and iv) Medulloblastoma, non-WNT/non-SHH. Importantly, recent large-scale epigenetic and transcriptomic studies have uncovered further refinements beyond the 4 original molecular subgroups. 4-6 The clinical utility of these refinements is still currently being investigated and may be incorporated in a later amendment or edition of the classification guidelines. 

Medulloblastoma Genetic Event(s)
Medulloblastoma, WNT-activatedMutations in exon 3 of CTNNB1 are present in upwards of 90% of WNT-activated medulloblatoma. 7-9 In the absence of a CTNNB1 mutation, pathogenic germline alterations in APC are often reported. 9,10 Other somatic alterations include those in SMARCA4, ARID1A, ARID2, DDX3X, CSNK2B, TP53, KMT2D, or PIK3CA. 8 Cyotgenetically, monosomy 6 is observed in >80% of WNT-activated medulloblatoma. 8,11,12 DNA methylation profiling is able to reliably determine the medulloblastoma group or subgroup and, despite other methodologies being available, 13-15 is often the considered the standard. 16-18
Medulloblastoma, SHH-activated and TP53-wildtypeGermline or somatic alterations in genes resulting in up-regulation of the SHH signaling pathway are the genetic hallmark of SHH-activated medulloblastoma. These include mutations in PTCH1 (~40%), SMO (~10%), and SUFU (~10%). Amplifications of other SHH target genes including GLI1, GLI2, MYCN, MYCL, andYAP1 have also been reported. 8,19 Importantly, hereditary tumor syndromes resulting in dysregulated SHH signaling account for ~40% of SHH-activated medulloblastoma and include Gorlin syndrome OMIM:109400, germline SUFU variants, and germline ELP1 mutations. 9,20 Other alterations include mutations in DDX3X, KMT2D, CREBBP, and non-coding TERT promoter alterations leading to elevated TERT expression. 8,21,22 U1 spliceosomal small nuclear RNA mutations are seen in ~ 15% of SHH-activated medulloblastoma and appear age-restricted. 20,23 Cytogenetic losses in chromosomes 9q and 10q, corresponding to PTCH1 and SUFU, are commonly seen. 7 DNA methylation or transcriptome profiling is able to reliably separate the SHH-activated medulloblastoma into four provisional subgroups which require further investigation and an international consensus. 4,5,18
Medulloblastoma, SHH-activated and TP53-mutantAs described above, germline or somatic alterations in genes involved in the SHH signaling pathway are the genetic hallmark of SHH-activated medulloblastoma. Differentiating these tumors from other SHH-activated medulloblastoma are germline or somatic alterations in TP53 which are reported in ~15% of tumors. 8,19,24 Often, they co-occur with additional molecular features including: MYCN and GLI2 amplifications, and chromothriptic rearrangements. 8,19,25 Cytogenetically, chromosome 17p deletion and loss of heterozygosity at the mutant TP53 locus are characteristic features of these tumors. 8,19 DNA methylation or transcriptome profiling is able to reliably separate the SHH-activated medulloblastoma into four provisional subgroups, of which TP53-mutant tumors are almost always assigned to a single subgroup (SHH-3). 4,5,18
Medulloblastoma, non-WNT/non-SHHNon-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma consists of the previously described group 3 and group 4 tumors. The most common aberrations seen in non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma are chromosome 17 copy-number alterations including 17p deletion, 17q gain, or an isodicentric 17q which arise in ~60% and ~85% of group 3 and 4 tumors, respectively. 8,12,26,27 MYC amplifications, often via a PVT1::MYC fusion are present in ~20% of group 4 medulloblastomas and is associated with a poor prognosis. 7,8,28 Other recurrently amplified genes include MYCN, CDK6, and OTX2 8. Recurrent mutations include those in SMARCA4, KDM6A, CTDNEP1, KMT2D, ZMYM3, KMT2C, KBTBD4, ZIC1, and TBR1. 8 Overexpression of GFI1, GFI1B, and PRDM6 via enhancer hijacking is also seen, the latter exclusively in group 4 tumors. 7,8,29 DNA methylation or transcriptome profiling is able to reliably separate non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma into eight provisional group 3/4 subgroups. 4-6,18

Article Bibliography

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Citation

Scott Ryall

Medulloblastoma, Molecularly Defined

Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. 2023-07-28

Online version: http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/solid-tumor/209199