Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41159380›Full record

ArticleNeuro-oncology2026

Integrated transcriptomic landscape of medulloblastoma and ependymoma reveals novel tumor subtype-specific biology.

Sonali Arora, Nicholas Nuechterlein, Matt Jensen, Gregory Glatzer, Philipp Sievers, Srinidhi Varadharajan, Andrey Korshunov, Felix Sahm, Stephen C Mack, Michael D Taylor and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neuro-oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. A brief history of ependymoma.Neuro-oncology · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Sonali AroraHuman Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington (S.A., M.J., G.G., T.S.G., E.C.H.).ORCID 0000-0002-6661-3024
Nicholas NuechterleinDepartment of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (N.N.).
Matt JensenHuman Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington (S.A., M.J., G.G., T.S.G., E.C.H.).
Gregory GlatzerHuman Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington (S.A., M.J., G.G., T.S.G., E.C.H.).
Philipp SieversDepartment of Neuropathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, and CCU Neuropathology, German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), -Heidelberg, Germany (P.S., A.K., F.S.).ORCID 0000-0003-3237-6021
Srinidhi VaradharajanDevelopmental Neurobiology Department, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee (S.V., S.C.M.).
Andrey KorshunovDepartment of Neuropathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, and CCU Neuropathology, German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), -Heidelberg, Germany (P.S., A.K., F.S.).
Felix SahmDepartment of Neuropathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, and CCU Neuropathology, German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), -Heidelberg, Germany (P.S., A.K., F.S.).ORCID 0000-0001-5441-1962
Stephen C MackDevelopmental Neurobiology Department, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee (S.V., S.C.M.).
Michael D TaylorNeuro-oncology Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (M.D.T.).
Taranjit S GujralHuman Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington (S.A., M.J., G.G., T.S.G., E.C.H.).
Eric C HollandHuman Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington (S.A., M.J., G.G., T.S.G., E.C.H.).

Funding

The role and mechanism of alternative RNA splice variants and gene fusions as drivers of cancerR35CA253119 · NCI · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER · PI Eric C. Holland · 2021 to 2026
$6.5M
Mechanisms and models of C11or95 and C11or95-RELA fusions (RELAFus )U54CA243125 · NCI · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER · PI HOLLAND, ERIC C. · 2019 to 2022
$6.2M
Fred Hutch Cancer Center 1R35 CA253119-01A1NCI NIH HHS R35 CA253119NCI NIH HHS U54 CA243125NIH HHS 1R35 CA253119-01A1NIH HHS C11orf95NIH HHS U54 CA243125RELA fusion-driven ependymoma
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMedulloblastoma and ependymoma are common pediatric central nervous system tumors with significant molecular and clinical heterogeneity. While molecular subgrouping has enabled classification into molecular subtypes, the extent of heterogeneity within these subgroups remains poorly defined.

methodsWe collected bulk RNA sequencing data from 888 medulloblastoma and 370 ependymoma tumors to establish a comprehensive reference landscape. After rigorous batch effect correction, normalization, and dimensionality reduction, we generated a unified landscape to explore gene expression, signaling pathways, RNA fusions, and copy number variations.

resultsOur transcriptional analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns, including two primary ependymoma compartments, EPN-E1 and EPN-E2, each with specific RNA fusions and molecular signatures. In medulloblastoma, we observed precise stratification of Group 3/4 tumors by subtype and in Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) tumors by patient age. We also identified subtype-specific pathways and gene fusions, enriched in each group.

conclusionsThis transcriptomic landscape serves as a resource for biomarker discovery, diagnostic refinement, and prediction of tumor biology and outcome. By enabling projection of new patients' bulk RNA-seq data onto the reference map using nearest neighbor analysis, the framework supports accurate subtype classification. The landscape is publicly available via Oncoscape, an interactive platform for global exploration and application.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorCerebellar NeoplasmsEpendymomaMedulloblastomaTranscriptomeAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolDNA Copy Number VariationsFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMalePrognosisBiomarkers, Tumorcopy numbergene fusionspathwaysRNA-Seqsubtyping

Identifiers

PMID41159380
PMCPMC12979040

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.