Multimodal analysis of pediatric pilocytic astrocytomas reveals tumor location-associated cellular and transcriptional heterogeneity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) are the most common pediatric central nervous system tumors, which present with limited genetic but significant clinical heterogeneity. Current treatment strategies are partly effective, but tumors often progress, and patients experience long-term side effects, highlighting the need for additional novel therapeutic approaches. A promising alternative approach could be targeting the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME); however, a comprehensive overview of the TIME of PAs across different anatomical tumor locations is currently lacking. The aim of this study was to comprehensively characterize the cellular and transcriptional landscape of pediatric PAs.

Methods

We employed a multimodal, integrative approach using single-nucleus and bulk

SUBMITTER: Lammers JAS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12916743 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature