Aberrantly expressed microRNAs and their implications in childhood central nervous system tumors

Even though the treatment of childhood cancer has evolved significantly in recent decades, aggressive central nervous system (CNS) tumors are still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Consequently, the identification of molecular targets that can be incorporated into diagnostic practice, effectively predict prognosis, follow treatment response, and materialize into potential targeted therapeutic approaches are still warranted. Since the first evidence of the participation of miRNAs in cancer development and progression 20 years ago, notable progress has been made in the basic understanding of the contribution of their dysregulation as epigenetic driver of tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, among the plethora of articles in the literature, microRNA profiling of pediatric tumors are scarce. This article gives an overview of the recent advances in the diagnostic/prognostic potential of miRNAs in a selection of pediatric CNS tumors: medulloblastoma, ependymoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors, and choroid plexus tumors.