Cancer Predisposition in Pediatric Brain Tumors

A germline mutation is a genetic mutation that can be passed onto offspring, and there are germline mutations that could cause predisposition to pediatric nervous system cancers. Previous studies have shown that approximately 8% of patients with pediatric cancer had germline mutations and a high proportion of those patients had central nervous system tumors. This was especially true in patients with high-grade gliomas (HGG), atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT), SHH medulloblastomas, and retinoblastomas. Researchers will use data from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas along with patient’s clinical data and family history to further study the impacts of predisposition to central nervous system tumors on patient outcomes. This information is important for both patients and their families who may share predisposition.