Molecular outcome prediction in intracranial ependymoma based on WDR16 expression status

Ependymomas are glial tumors of the brain and the spinal cord. Despite histological similarities, recent data suggest that the entity ependymoma encompasses multiple molecularly and clinically different subgroups. An incontrovertible fact of ependymoma is the highly variable clinical behaviour, hindering outcome prediction and consequently risk-adapted therapy. By performing whole genome expression profiling of 65 intracranial ependymomas, we identified the kinocilia-marker gene WD repeat domain 16 (WDR16) as a novel biomarker, which allows outcome prediction in ependymoma of all locations of the CNS. Elevated W…