Award for Prof. Ulrich Schüller: new medulloblastoma type discovered

At this year's annual conference of the German Society for Neuropathology and Neuroanatomy (DGNN), Prof. Ulrich Schüller won first prize for his poster on discovering a new type of medulloblastoma. The presentation convinced the jury with its significant findings in neuro-oncology and its relevance for developing targeted treatment approaches.

Medulloblastomas are fast-growing brain tumours that originate in the cerebellum. They are one of the most common malignant brain tumours in children and adolescents. So far, four molecular subtypes have been distinguished: WNT, SHH, group 3 and group 4. The Hamburg-based research team headed by Prof. Schüller and Dr. Alicia Eckhardt has now identified a fifth subtype, which they have provisionally named ‘group 5 medulloblastoma’. The new subtype occurs in both children and adults, with a higher incidence in boys and men than in girls and women.

At the molecular level, group 5 medulloblastomas are characterised, among other things, by a unique DNA methylation pattern and transcriptome. In addition, Schüller's team discovered active molecular signalling pathways in tumour samples that play a crucial role in developing various organ systems and muscle cells. This suggests that group 5 medulloblastomas may contain many immature cells that have not yet fully developed.

‘Our discovery represents a significant step forward on the road to individually tailored therapies,’ Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schüller explains. “This is because, depending on the subtype, the course of the disease and the response to certain forms of therapy can vary greatly.”

Further investigations aim to gain a more precise understanding of the new subtype's cellular origin, genetic characteristics, and clinical features.