The kinocilia marker WDR16 as a prognostic molecular marker in pediatric ependymoma

Ependymomas are glial-cell-derived tumors which arise from the kinocilia-bearing ependymal layer of the ventricular system. Due to the heterogeneous clinical behaviour and characteristics of this brain tumor, stratifying patients into appropriate risk groups remains a major clinical challenge. Therefore, there is a strong requirement for the identification of robust molecular markers, which may be superior to clinical information (e.g., level of surgical resection, WHO grading) in their predictive power. Based on mRNA expression profiling of 65 intracranial ependymoma samples, we could show that elevated mRNA el…