Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Medulloblastoma and Its Therapeutic Targets
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 5903
Special Issue Editor
Interests: medulloblastoma; lymphangiogenesis; VEGFC; angiogenesis; resistance to treatment; targeted treatment; stem cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain tumor, accounting for over 20% of all pediatric brain tumors. MB belongs to the group of primary neuroectodermal tumors (PNET). It is a fast-growing tumor that very rarely occurs in adults.
MB is characterized by a heterogeneous pathology comprising several molecular subgroups that were identified through transcriptomic analysis of several patient cohorts. These subgroups differ in their demographic characteristics, transcriptomes, somatic genetic events, and clinical outcomes. The actual number of MB subgroups is unknown, and it is likely that each subgroup can be further subdivided into several subtypes. Four main subgroups are described in the current consensus: Wnt, SHH, group 4, and group 3 (presented in order from least to most aggressive).
Multimodal treatment of MB involves a combination of surgical tumor resection, radiotherapy (high-energy X-rays), and adjuvant chemotherapy. This treatment leads to a 5-year survival rate of up to 70% after diagnosis. However, most patients suffer from long-term side effects, and the outcome for recurrent MB (affecting approximately 30% of patients) is fatal in most cases. Knowing the parameters and molecular agents responsible for this pejorative evolution would limit the number of fatalities. To date, the mechanisms of tumor resistance are not fully understood, but they are probably associated with events linked to the tumor microenvironment, intrinsic resistance correlated with the redundancy of proangiogenic factors, and the phenomenon of acquired resistance.
This Special Issue encourages the submission of original research, short communications, and review manuscripts focused on deciphering the mechanisms of MB development and treatment resistance, with the aim of highlighting new relevant therapeutic targets. Submissions describing clinical projects involving the validation of biological markers are also welcome.
Dr. Sonia Martial
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- medulloblastoma
- cerebellum
- pediatric cancer
- resistance to treatment
- metastasis
- targeted treatment
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