Molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma are characterized by unique molecular features and anatomic features, as described in Figure 2. Subgroup-specific treatments are summarized in Table 1.

The WNT-pathway-derived subtype comprises 10% of medulloblastoma cases, and generally affects children over four years of age [13]. These tumors arise in the cerebellar midline and may spread to the dorsal brainstem [37]. They have the best prognosis of the four subtypes, with nearly 100% 5-year survival and rare metastasis [30,38,39,40]. Most WNT-derived tumors have a somatic CTNNB1 mutation, encoding B-catenin, and chromosomal variations like monosomy 6 [41,42]. Due to its favorable prognosis and low-risk biological profile, several clinical trials are investigating de-escalating treatment methods. Clinical trials NCT01878617, NCT02066220, and NCT02724579, examining reduced doses of craniospinal radiation and chemotherapy, are expected to report their results within the next few years [14]. Recent studies have found that WNT medulloblastoma secretes WNT antagonists that prevent blood-brain barrier formation. This aberrant tumor vessel phenotype permits chemotherapy to reach and achieve high concentration within the WNT-subtype tumor, contributing to its excellent prognosis [31]. Unlike the SHH subtype, recurrence of WNT subtype medulloblastoma is not associated with the extent of resection and metastatic disease [28,43,44]. Anatomically, most relapses occur in the lateral ventricles; the remainder occur in the leptomeninges and surgical tumor bed or, in rare cases, in the suprasellar region [45,46].

The SHH subtype is the most common medulloblastoma subtype, with an estimated 25–30% prevalence. The SHH subtype usually occurs in children less than 5 years old [38,47]. The tumors arise in the cerebellar hemispheres, and are characterized by mutated or inactivating mutations of PTCH1 (43%) and SUFU (10%) [37]. This subtype has an 80% overall survival in large cohort trials [39,48]. A multicenter phase 2 trial from St. Jude’s (SJYC07; NCT00602667) divided the SHH subtype into two molecular subgroups: iSHH-I and iSHH-II, based on their distinct methylation patterns. In patients under 5 years of age not receiving radiation, intraventricular chemotherapy, or high-dose chemotherapy, the iSHH-II group had improved progression-free survival compared to iSHH-I [49]. The prognosis of SHH subtype medulloblastoma further depends on TP53 gene status, the most critical risk factor for SHH medulloblastoma. While SHH is generally distributed in young children, SHH/TP53 mutant tumors occur almost exclusively in children older than 5 years, of whom 56% carry a TP53 germline mutation. The TP53 mutation confers a relatively poor prognosis, with a 41% five-year overall survival rate, compared to 81% in the SHH subtype without the TP53 mutation. This mutation is responsible for 72% of deaths in children with the SHH subtype [50]. Relapse of the SHH subtype medulloblastoma generally occurs in the surgical tumor bed [51]. The SHH pathway’s two main molecular targets are Smoothened (SMO) receptor antagonists and GL1 transcription factor inhibitors [52]. Small and large molecules cannot cross the blood-brain barrier of this subtype, making it resistant to chemotherapy, unlike WNT subtype tumors. The development of nanoparticles, which may encapsulate SMO or GLI inhibitors, may improve drug delivery [32,33]. Nanoparticle technology provides a promising new research avenue for treating SHH subtype medulloblastoma, based on testing in in vitro and in vivo medulloblastoma models.

Group 3 comprises approximately one-quarter of medulloblastoma cases, affecting infants and young children. Males predominate 2:1 to females in Group 3 [53]. Group 3 is an aggressive medulloblastoma subtype, with over 40% of patients having metastases at diagnosis. The five-year survival rate ranges between 30% and 60% [12,14,54]. Like WNT-type tumors, Group 3 tumors grow in the midline and often into the fourth ventricle. The Group 3 subtype tumor recurs almost exclusively in the leptomeninges [51]. No therapeutic agents effectively target Group 3 medulloblastoma or reduce its high mortality. A better understanding of its underlying tumor molecular genetics and molecular pathways will provide drug targets that can overcome its therapeutic resistance. Genotyping and transcriptomics combined with methylation have successfully identified many biomarkers that may direct future therapies. About 20% of Group 3 tumors have MYC oncogene amplification, which carries a poor prognosis [55]. Transcriptome and tissue studies have also identified follistatin-like 5 (FSTL5) immunopositivity as a poor prognostic factor in Group 3 and Group 4 tumors [56]. Other molecular identifiers in Group 3 include increased expression of GFI, IMPG2, GABRA5, EGFL11, NRL, MAB21 L2 [57,58], and MYC-driven long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). These genes driving Group 3 medulloblastoma are being targeted in preclinical animal models [57].

Group 3 tumor growth depends on angiogenesis, as evidenced by the significant elevation of VEGFA mRNA expression in this group compared to other medulloblastoma subtypes. Grade 3 tumor vascularity is also associated with overexpression of the RNH1, SCG2, and AGGF1 genes, and with lower survival rates. Anti-vascularization therapies used in glioblastoma clinical trials may be repurposed for Group 3 medulloblastoma [35]. Ribavirin— antiviral medication for RSV and hepatitis C infections—may have therapeutic potential. Ribavirin significantly prolonged survival and reduced medulloblastoma cell growth in a mouse model of Group 3 medulloblastoma [34].

ABC transporters are implicated in the resistance of medulloblastoma cells to radiation and chemotherapy treatment. In Group 3 subtype mouse models, the ABCG2 transporter is overexpressed. Inhibiting this transporter in in vivo studies enhanced the antiproliferative response to topotecan chemotherapy [59]. ABCA8 and ABCB4 family transporters are highly expressed in the SHH pathway-driven tumors, and confer resistance to radiation therapy [60].

The Group 4 subtype comprises approximately 35% of medulloblastoma, and occurs in children of all ages (median age, 9 years). There is a 3:1 predominance of males to females in this group. Group 4 medulloblastoma is the least understood medulloblastoma subtype. The Group 4 and 3 subtypes share many features. Like the Group 3 subtype, Group 4 medulloblastoma occurs in the midline vermis, and an underlying molecular pathway does not yet explain its pathogenesis. However, the two non-WNT, non-SHH medulloblastoma subtypes have MYC and OTX2 amplifications [42]. About 6–9% of Group 4 tumors are associated with molecular targets (KDM6A, ZMYM3, KTM2C, and KBTBD4) [14]. In preclinical mouse models, aberrant signaling of ERBB4-SRC receptor tyrosine kinase and TP53 inactivation may induce a tumor resembling Group 4 medulloblastoma [36]. These findings support exploring tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as dasatinib as potential therapeutic agents. The estimated five-year overall survival rate of Group 4 medulloblastoma is 75%. Survival is reduced by metastasis [61]. Low-risk and standard-risk disease is characterized by a loss of chromosome 11 and a lack of metastasis. High-risk disease is defined by metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Interestingly, an ‘intermediate’ type of medulloblastoma, with transitional features of Group 3 and Group 4, has a better prognosis than Group 3 or 4 alone [62].