Methylation profiling of pediatric CNS tumors to define molecular subtype-specific signatures

Despite the emerging utility of tumor methylation profiling for diagnosis, and for identification of clinically relevant molecular changes, much of the biology of the DNA methylation landscape across pediatric tumors of the central nervous system remain unexplored. Especially contributons of the immune system which can be monitored via DNA methylation is of increasing importance given the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. This work will help to establish the clinical utility of DNA methylation profiling of tumor biopsy tissue, and to identify methylation signatures that may serve as prognostic biomarkers.