Genomic Characterization of Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas

Pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs) are the most common pediatric brain-tumor, with more than ten histologic subtypes recognized by the World Health Organization. We performed a genomic analysis of 230 PLGGs of which 73 had whole genome/RNA sequencing performed and show that MYB-QKI fusions define the seizure associated tumor, Angiocentric Glioma (AG). MYB-QKI fusions present in AGs contribute to tumorigenesis through three mechanisms: MYB activation by truncation, enhancer translocation driving aberrant MYB-QKI expression, and hemizygous loss of QKI, a tumor suppressor gene. Such interplay between three oncogenic mechanisms has diagnostic and therapeutic implications in AGs, and illustrates the functional complexity associated with rearrangements in cancer.