Defining the role of the histone 3 (H3.3G34R) mutation in the pathogenesis of pediatric high grade astrocytoma

High grade astrocytoma is the main cause of pediatric brain tumor death. Decades of clinical trials, largely informed by work on adult brain tumors, have been ineffective at improving their treatment. The discovery of frequent G34R mutations in histone H3 occurring in pediatric tumors suggests that histone biology plays a critical role in their development, however, the nature of that role remains unknown.