Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Medulloblastoma and Its Therapeutic Targets

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

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• medulloblastoma
• cerebellum
• pediatric cancer
• resistance to treatment
• metastasis
• targeted treatment