Brain cancer is the most common form of cancer amongst children and due to the large number of different types of brain tumours, a proper diagnosis is necessary for effective treatment. One EU-supported project has provided tools to improve the diagnosis and outcome predictions of patients with brain tumours.
Epigenetic alterations are observed at the earliest stages of neoplasia within stem cells. Importantly, the alterations are reversible and can potentially be treated. In children, brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and long-term morbidity, but there are many types of brain tumours and they can be hard to distinguish by standard methods. However, a proper diagnosis is essential to be able to treat the individual patients most effectively.
Further details: New insights into the epigenome of brain tumours