Pineoblastoma

Cancer MONDO:0016722 Pathograph 12 Show in embeddings browser pineal parenchymal tumor embryonal tumor of the central nervous system

Pineoblastoma is a rare, aggressive embryonal pineal parenchymal malignancy that occurs predominantly in children. Current molecular data support a disease-level model with multiple epigenetic consensus subgroups rather than separate disorder pages for each ontology subclass. Major causal programs include microRNA-processing pathway disruption in PB-miRNA1/PB-miRNA2, RB1-pathway loss in PB-RB1, and FOXR2-associated oncogenic activation in PB-MYC/FOXR2, with recurrent OTX2 gain observed across subtypes.

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1
Mappings
6
Pathophys.
4
Histopath.
3
Phenotypes
12
Pathograph
6
Genes
3
Medical Actions
4
Subtypes
4
Datasets
9
References
1
Deep Research
🏷

Classifications

ICD-O Morphology
Embryonal Neoplasm
Harrison's Part
ONCOLOGY HEMATOLOGY
🔗

Mappings

MONDO
MONDO:0016722 pineoblastoma
skos:exactMatch MONDO
Primary MONDO disease identifier for this pineoblastoma entry.
◆

Subtypes

4
PB-miRNA1
DICER1 hgnc:17098 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this subtype is caused by variation in this gene This subtype is caused by variation in DICER1 (hgnc:17098). hgnc:17098 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee. DROSHA hgnc:17904 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this subtype is caused by variation in this gene This subtype is caused by variation in DROSHA (hgnc:17904). hgnc:17904 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
Consensus molecular subgroup enriched for microRNA-processing pathway defects, including DICER1 and DROSHA alterations. Available cohort data link this subgroup to older age at diagnosis and comparatively better outcomes than PB-MYC/FOXR2 or PB-RB1.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:41291966 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and 8 PB-RB1 cases."
Establishes PB-miRNA1 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma subgroups.
PMID:39992227 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"All pineoblastoma tumors analyzed were classified as miRNA processing-altered 1 subtype."
Supports PB-miRNA1 as a biologically coherent subgroup associated with DROSHA-related predisposition.
PB-miRNA2
DICER1 hgnc:17098 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this subtype is caused by variation in this gene This subtype is caused by variation in DICER1 (hgnc:17098). hgnc:17098 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee. DROSHA hgnc:17904 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this subtype is caused by variation in this gene This subtype is caused by variation in DROSHA (hgnc:17904). hgnc:17904 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee. DGCR8 hgnc:2847 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this subtype is caused by variation in this gene This subtype is caused by variation in DGCR8 (hgnc:2847). hgnc:2847 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
Consensus molecular subgroup within the microRNA-processing altered pineoblastomas. These tumors share recurrent DICER1, DROSHA, or DGCR8 pathway lesions with PB-miRNA1 but remain epigenetically distinct.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:41291966 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and 8 PB-RB1 cases."
Establishes PB-miRNA2 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma subgroups.
PMID:41291966 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"PB-miRNA subtype tumors had characteristic alterations in microRNA-processing genes; DICER1 mutations (n = 19/64) and homozygous deletions of the DROSHA locus (n = 18/67) were most abundant, followed by DROSHA mutations (n = 12/64)."
Supports grouping PB-miRNA2 with the microRNA-processing altered axis of pineoblastoma biology.
PB-MYC/FOXR2
FOXR2 hgnc:30469 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this subtype is caused by variation in this gene This subtype is caused by variation in FOXR2 (hgnc:30469). hgnc:30469 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
Consensus subgroup characterized by FOXR2-associated oncogenic activation and poor outcomes in infants. This subgroup corresponds to the earlier PB-FOXR2 category from the SJ trial-based methylation analysis.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:41291966 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and 8 PB-RB1 cases."
Establishes PB-MYC/FOXR2 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma subgroups.
PMID:31802236 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"PB-FOXR2 samples universally overexpressed the FOXR2 proto-oncogene."
Supports FOXR2 overexpression as the defining driver signal for the FOXR2-associated pineoblastoma subgroup.
PB-RB1
RB1 hgnc:9884 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this subtype is caused by variation in this gene This subtype is caused by variation in RB1 (hgnc:9884). hgnc:9884 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
Consensus subgroup with RB1 pathway disruption, including tumors arising in the setting of trilateral retinoblastoma and sporadic pineal tumors with RB1 alterations. Infant PB-RB1 cases have especially poor outcomes.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:41291966 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and 8 PB-RB1 cases."
Establishes PB-RB1 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma subgroups.
PMID:31768671 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The novel molecular subgroup Pin-RB includes cases of trilateral retinoblastoma as well as sporadic pineal tumors with RB1 alterations, and displays similarities with retinoblastoma."
Supports RB1-altered pineoblastoma as a discrete molecular subgroup tied to retinoblastoma biology.
⚙

Pathophysiology

6
MicroRNA-Processing Pathway Inactivation
A major pineoblastoma disease program involves recurrent disruption of the microRNA-processing machinery, especially DICER1, DROSHA, and DGCR8. This program defines the PB-miRNA consensus subgroups and links pineoblastoma to germline cancer predisposition contexts involving microRNA biogenesis genes.
pinealocyte CL:0000652 Cell Ontology (CL) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this cell type This pathophysiological event involves pinealocyte (CL:0000652). CL:0000652 is a cell type from the Cell Ontology.
DICER1 hgnc:17098 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this gene This pathophysiological event involves DICER1 (hgnc:17098). hgnc:17098 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee. DROSHA hgnc:17904 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this gene This pathophysiological event involves DROSHA (hgnc:17904). hgnc:17904 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee. DGCR8 hgnc:2847 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this gene This pathophysiological event involves DGCR8 (hgnc:2847). hgnc:2847 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
pineal body UBERON:0001905 Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology (UBERON) Relation: this pathophysiological event occurs in this anatomical location This pathophysiological event occurs in pineal body (UBERON:0001905). UBERON:0001905 is an anatomical location from the Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology.
Downstream
Mature microRNA Depletion Loss of DICER1 or DROSHA function reduces mature microRNA output
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31768671 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Alterations within the miRNA processing pathway (affecting DROSHA, DGCR8 or DICER1) are found in about two thirds of cases in the three core PB subtypes."
Identifies microRNA-processing pathway disruption as a central recurrent mechanism in pineoblastoma.
PMID:41291966 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"PB-miRNA subtype tumors had characteristic alterations in microRNA-processing genes; DICER1 mutations (n = 19/64) and homozygous deletions of the DROSHA locus (n = 18/67) were most abundant, followed by DROSHA mutations (n = 12/64)."
Confirms that the PB-miRNA consensus groups are genetically defined by recurrent lesions in microRNA-processing genes.
Mature microRNA Depletion
Defects in DROSHA or DICER1 reduce mature microRNA abundance, including the let-7/miR-98-5p family, and derepress microRNA target genes in developing pineal cells. This establishes a direct post-transcriptional mechanism that precedes the developmental and proliferative abnormalities of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma.
pinealocyte CL:0000652 Cell Ontology (CL) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this cell type This pathophysiological event involves pinealocyte (CL:0000652). CL:0000652 is a cell type from the Cell Ontology.
pineal body UBERON:0001905 Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology (UBERON) Relation: this pathophysiological event occurs in this anatomical location This pathophysiological event occurs in pineal body (UBERON:0001905). UBERON:0001905 is an anatomical location from the Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology.
Downstream
Proliferation-Differentiation Imbalance Loss of mature microRNAs derepresses programs that sustain embryonic proliferation
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:40240142 SUPPORT Model Organism
"Accordingly, these mice develop pineal tumors marked by loss of microRNAs, particularly the let-7/miR-98-5p family, and derepression of microRNA target genes."
Directly supports mature microRNA depletion as an immediate mechanistic consequence of microRNA-processing gene loss in pineoblastoma models.
Proliferation-Differentiation Imbalance
MicroRNA-defective pineoblastoma develops when proliferative programs remain active while pinealocyte maturation fails to complete. This imbalance links the microRNA-processing defect to the embryonal, poorly differentiated tumor state.
pinealocyte CL:0000652 Cell Ontology (CL) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this cell type This pathophysiological event involves pinealocyte (CL:0000652). CL:0000652 is a cell type from the Cell Ontology.
cell population proliferation GO:0008283 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves increased cell population proliferation (GO:0008283). GO:0008283 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ↑ INCREASED cell differentiation GO:0030154 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves decreased cell differentiation (GO:0030154). GO:0030154 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ↓ DECREASED
pineal body UBERON:0001905 Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology (UBERON) Relation: this pathophysiological event occurs in this anatomical location This pathophysiological event occurs in pineal body (UBERON:0001905). UBERON:0001905 is an anatomical location from the Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:40240142 SUPPORT Model Organism
"Pineal tumors driven by loss of Drosha or Dicer1 mimic tumors driven by Rb1 loss, as they exhibit upregulation of S-phase genes and homeobox transcription factors that regulate pineal development."
Supports abnormal coupling of persistent cell-cycle entry with a disrupted pineal developmental program.
PMID:40240142 SUPPORT Model Organism
"Blocking proliferation of these tumors facilitates expression of pinealocyte maturation markers, with a concomitant reduction in embryonic markers."
Shows that excessive proliferation and blocked differentiation are linked and partially reversible components of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma.
RB1 Pathway Inactivation
RB1 loss defines an aggressive pineoblastoma program that overlaps with trilateral retinoblastoma biology. This mechanism removes G1/S checkpoint control and underlies the RB1-associated pineoblastoma subgroup.
RB1 hgnc:9884 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this gene This pathophysiological event involves RB1 (hgnc:9884). hgnc:9884 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
cell cycle checkpoint signaling GO:0000075 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves decreased cell cycle checkpoint signaling (GO:0000075). GO:0000075 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ↓ DECREASED G1/S transition of mitotic cell cycle GO:0000082 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves abnormal G1/S transition of mitotic cell cycle (GO:0000082). GO:0000082 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ⚠ ABNORMAL
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31768671 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The novel molecular subgroup Pin-RB includes cases of trilateral retinoblastoma as well as sporadic pineal tumors with RB1 alterations, and displays similarities with retinoblastoma."
Supports RB1-pathway loss as the defining mechanism of the RB1-associated pineoblastoma subgroup.
FOXR2 Oncogenic Activation
A distinct pineoblastoma subgroup is driven by FOXR2 overexpression, indicating FOXR2-centered oncogenic transcriptional activation rather than microRNA-processing or RB1 loss as the dominant causal program.
FOXR2 hgnc:30469 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this gene This pathophysiological event involves FOXR2 (hgnc:30469). hgnc:30469 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
cell population proliferation GO:0008283 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves increased cell population proliferation (GO:0008283). GO:0008283 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ↑ INCREASED
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31802236 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"PB-FOXR2 samples universally overexpressed the FOXR2 proto-oncogene."
Directly supports FOXR2 overexpression as the defining driver signal of the FOXR2-associated subgroup.
OTX2 Copy-Number Gain
OTX2 gain is a frequent recurrent event across pineoblastoma subtypes, supporting a subtype-spanning oncogenic role for OTX2 in pineoblastoma pathogenesis.
OTX2 hgnc:8522 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this gene This pathophysiological event involves OTX2 (hgnc:8522). hgnc:8522 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
cell population proliferation GO:0008283 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves increased cell population proliferation (GO:0008283). GO:0008283 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ↑ INCREASED
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:41291966 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"OTX2 gain represented the most frequent alteration that occurred in 37/83 PB of all subtypes."
Supports OTX2 gain as a recurrent cross-subtype oncogenic event in pineoblastoma.
✶

Histopathology

4
Pineoblastoma Histology VERY_FREQUENT
Pineoblastoma is an embryonal pineal parenchymal malignancy with distinct photosensory differentiation features on histopathology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:11767290 SUPPORT Other
"In contrast, pineoblastomas are embryonal tumors resembling primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET)."
Supports the embryonal histopathologic identity of pineoblastoma among pineal parenchymal tumors.
Homer Wright Rosettes
Homer Wright rosettes are a classic microscopic feature of pineoblastoma and support its embryonal neuroectodermal morphology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:6986979 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Histologically they are also similar to the medulloblastoma-neuroblastoma group and are characterized by the scarcity of cytoplasmic processes and by the Homer Wright rosette."
Supports Homer Wright rosettes as a defining microscopic feature of pineoblastoma.
Flexner-Wintersteiner Rosettes
Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes indicate photosensory differentiation and help distinguish pineoblastoma from other primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:11767290 SUPPORT Other
"However, pineoblastomas are distinct from PNET in other sites due to their exhibiting photosensory differentiation including Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes and fleurettes."
Supports Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes as a distinguishing microscopic finding in pineoblastoma.
Fleurette Formation
Fleurettes reflect photosensory differentiation in pineoblastoma and can help separate it from other embryonal central nervous system tumors.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:11767290 SUPPORT Other
"However, pineoblastomas are distinct from PNET in other sites due to their exhibiting photosensory differentiation including Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes and fleurettes."
Supports fleurettes as part of the photosensory differentiation pattern of pineoblastoma histopathology.
⬡

Pathograph

Use the checkboxes to hide or show graph categories. Hover nodes for evidence and cross-linked metadata.
Pathograph: causal mechanism network for Pineoblastoma Interactive directed graph showing how pathophysiology mechanisms, phenotypes, genetic factors and variants, experimental models, environmental triggers, and treatments relate through causal and linked edges.
●

Phenotypes

3
Headache FREQUENT Neurologic HP:0002315 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Headache (HP:0002315). HP:0002315 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:32286280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Early symptoms include headache, ocular disturbance, ataxia and increased intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus."
Supports headache as a typical presenting symptom in pineoblastoma.
Ataxia OCCASIONAL Neurologic HP:0001251 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Ataxia (HP:0001251). HP:0001251 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:32286280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Early symptoms include headache, ocular disturbance, ataxia and increased intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus."
Supports ataxia as a presenting neurologic symptom in pineoblastoma.
Hydrocephalus FREQUENT Neurologic HP:0000238 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Hydrocephalus (HP:0000238). HP:0000238 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:32286280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Early symptoms include headache, ocular disturbance, ataxia and increased intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus."
Supports hydrocephalus as a common consequence of pineoblastoma location.
🧬

Genetic Associations

6
DICER1 (Germline and Somatic Alterations)
Gene: DICER1 hgnc:17098 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this disease-associated gene is this gene This disease-associated gene is DICER1 (hgnc:17098). hgnc:17098 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
DROSHA (Germline and Somatic Alterations)
Gene: DROSHA hgnc:17904 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this disease-associated gene is this gene This disease-associated gene is DROSHA (hgnc:17904). hgnc:17904 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
DGCR8 (Somatic Alterations)
Gene: DGCR8 hgnc:2847 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this disease-associated gene is this gene This disease-associated gene is DGCR8 (hgnc:2847). hgnc:2847 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
RB1 (Germline and Somatic Alterations)
Gene: RB1 hgnc:9884 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this disease-associated gene is this gene This disease-associated gene is RB1 (hgnc:9884). hgnc:9884 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
FOXR2 (Oncogenic Overexpression)
Gene: FOXR2 hgnc:30469 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this disease-associated gene is this gene This disease-associated gene is FOXR2 (hgnc:30469). hgnc:30469 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
OTX2 (Copy-Number Gain)
Gene: OTX2 hgnc:8522 HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (hgnc) Relation: this disease-associated gene is this gene This disease-associated gene is OTX2 (hgnc:8522). hgnc:8522 is a gene from the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee.
💊

Medical Actions

3
Maximal Safe Surgical Resection
Action: surgical resectionNCI Thesaurus (NCIT) Relation: this treatment is this clinical intervention This treatment is surgical resection, annotated with Surgical Procedure (NCIT:C15329). NCIT:C15329 is a clinical intervention from the NCI Thesaurus. Ontology label: Surgical Procedure NCIT:C15329
Initial management centers on maximal safe surgical excision for diagnosis, decompression, and cytoreduction before adjuvant therapy.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:40778560 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"They were treated with maximal safe surgical excision followed by pre-irradiation chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, etoposide and carboplatin) up to 36 months of age or till disease progression, followed by either craniospinal (standard 35Gy or reduced-dose 23.4 Gy) with boost to a total of 54.8..."
Supports maximal safe surgical excision as part of standard multimodal pineoblastoma therapy.
Craniospinal Irradiation
Action: Craniospinal IrradiationNCI Thesaurus (NCIT) Relation: this treatment is this clinical intervention This treatment is Craniospinal Irradiation (NCIT:C116437). NCIT:C116437 is a clinical intervention from the NCI Thesaurus. NCIT:C116437
Craniospinal irradiation remains a core component of treatment for many patients, with dose adapted to risk group and age.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31802236 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Pineoblastoma is a rare embryonal tumor of childhood that is conventionally treated with high-dose craniospinal irradiation (CSI)."
Supports craniospinal irradiation as a standard modality in pineoblastoma.
PMID:31802236 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The SJMB03 protocol comprised risk-adapted CSI (average-risk = 23.4 Gy, high-risk = 36 Gy) with radiation boost to the primary site and adjuvant chemotherapy."
Provides protocol-level evidence for risk-adapted craniospinal irradiation in older children.
Multi-agent Chemotherapy
Action: chemotherapyNCI Thesaurus (NCIT) Relation: this treatment is this clinical intervention This treatment is chemotherapy (NCIT:C15632). NCIT:C15632 is a clinical intervention from the NCI Thesaurus. Ontology label: Chemotherapy NCIT:C15632
Agent: cyclophosphamide CHEBI:4027 Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (CHEBI) Relation: this treatment uses this therapeutic agent This treatment uses cyclophosphamide (CHEBI:4027). CHEBI:4027 is a therapeutic agent from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest. etoposide CHEBI:4911 Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (CHEBI) Relation: this treatment uses this therapeutic agent This treatment uses etoposide (CHEBI:4911). CHEBI:4911 is a therapeutic agent from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest. carboplatin CHEBI:31355 Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (CHEBI) Relation: this treatment uses this therapeutic agent This treatment uses carboplatin (CHEBI:31355). CHEBI:31355 is a therapeutic agent from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest.
Chemotherapy is routinely combined with surgery and radiation, and in infants may be used before irradiation to delay or modify radiotherapy exposure.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31802236 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The SJYC07 protocol consisted of induction chemotherapy, consolidation with focal radiation (intermediate-risk) or chemotherapy (high-risk), and metronomic maintenance therapy."
Supports protocol-based chemotherapy use in young children with pineoblastoma.
PMID:40778560 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"They were treated with maximal safe surgical excision followed by pre-irradiation chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, etoposide and carboplatin) up to 36 months of age or till disease progression, followed by either craniospinal (standard 35Gy or reduced-dose 23.4 Gy) with boost to a total of 54.8..."
Supports a common pediatric chemotherapy backbone used in the pre-irradiation setting for pineoblastoma.
📊

Related Datasets

4
DNA methylation analysis of pineoblastoma geo:GSE133801
Pineoblastoma is a rare and aggressive embryonal tumor of childhood. The molecular heterogeneity within has not been systematically evaluated. In this study, we used methylation profiling to compare the signatures of pineoblastoma and other pineal parenchymal tumors to a reference cohort of brain tumor entities (GSE90496) , clinically relevant epigenomic subgroups with characteristics genomic/transcriptomic features are described.
human METHYLATION n=43
PMID:31802236
Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Pineoblastoma (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.
Drosha loss drives pineoblastoma by upregulating Ccnd2 geo:GSE255914
mouse BULK RNA SEQ n=64
PMID:40240142
Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Pineoblastoma (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.
A temporal in vivo catalog of chromatin accessibility and expression profiles in pineoblastoma reveals a prevalent role for repressor elements geo:GSE180868
Pediatric pineoblastomas (PBs) are rare and aggressive tumors of grade IV histology. Although some oncogenic drivers are characterized, including germline mutations in RB1 and DICER1, the role of epigenetic deregulation and cis-regulatory regions in PB pathogenesis and progression is largely unknown. Here, we generated genome-wide gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and H3K27ac profiles covering key time points of PB initiation and progression from pineal tissues of a mouse model of CCND1-driven PB.
mouse MULTI OMICS n=19
PMID:36650051
Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Pineoblastoma (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.
Molecular characterization of pineoblastoma ega:EGAS00001003783
human
European Genome-phenome Archive study, matched because the disease is named in the study's own title ("Pineoblastoma"); description-level mentions were not accepted. EGA study_type: Cancer Genomics. Controlled access -- data require a Data Access Agreement. EGA metadata retrieved 2026-08-01.
{ }

Source YAML

click to show 
name: Pineoblastoma
creation_date: '2026-04-13T05:34:38Z'
category: Cancer
description: >-
  Pineoblastoma is a rare, aggressive embryonal pineal parenchymal malignancy
  that occurs predominantly in children. Current molecular data support a
  disease-level model with multiple epigenetic consensus subgroups rather than
  separate disorder pages for each ontology subclass. Major causal programs
  include microRNA-processing pathway disruption in PB-miRNA1/PB-miRNA2,
  RB1-pathway loss in PB-RB1, and FOXR2-associated oncogenic activation in
  PB-MYC/FOXR2, with recurrent OTX2 gain observed across subtypes.
categories:
- Pediatric Cancer
- Central Nervous System Tumor
- Embryonal Tumor
- Pineal Parenchymal Tumor
- Rare Cancer
parents:
- pineal parenchymal tumor
- embryonal tumor of the central nervous system
disease_term:
  preferred_term: pineoblastoma
  term:
    id: MONDO:0016722
    label: pineoblastoma
has_subtypes:
- name: PB-miRNA1
  classification: epigenetic consensus subgroup
  description: >-
    Consensus molecular subgroup enriched for microRNA-processing pathway
    defects, including DICER1 and DROSHA alterations. Available cohort data link
    this subgroup to older age at diagnosis and comparatively better outcomes
    than PB-MYC/FOXR2 or PB-RB1.
  genes:
  - preferred_term: DICER1
    term:
      id: hgnc:17098
      label: DICER1
  - preferred_term: DROSHA
    term:
      id: hgnc:17904
      label: DROSHA
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:41291966
    reference_title: "Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and
      8 PB-RB1 cases.
    explanation: >-
      Establishes PB-miRNA1 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma
      subgroups.
  - reference: PMID:39992227
    reference_title: "Germline Pathogenic DROSHA Variants Are Linked to Pineoblastoma and Wilms Tumor Predisposition."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      All pineoblastoma tumors analyzed were classified as miRNA
      processing-altered 1 subtype.
    explanation: >-
      Supports PB-miRNA1 as a biologically coherent subgroup associated with
      DROSHA-related predisposition.
- name: PB-miRNA2
  classification: epigenetic consensus subgroup
  description: >-
    Consensus molecular subgroup within the microRNA-processing altered
    pineoblastomas. These tumors share recurrent DICER1, DROSHA, or DGCR8
    pathway lesions with PB-miRNA1 but remain epigenetically distinct.
  genes:
  - preferred_term: DICER1
    term:
      id: hgnc:17098
      label: DICER1
  - preferred_term: DROSHA
    term:
      id: hgnc:17904
      label: DROSHA
  - preferred_term: DGCR8
    term:
      id: hgnc:2847
      label: DGCR8
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:41291966
    reference_title: "Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and
      8 PB-RB1 cases.
    explanation: >-
      Establishes PB-miRNA2 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma
      subgroups.
  - reference: PMID:41291966
    reference_title: "Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      PB-miRNA subtype tumors had characteristic alterations in
      microRNA-processing genes; DICER1 mutations (n = 19/64) and homozygous
      deletions of the DROSHA locus (n = 18/67) were most abundant, followed by
      DROSHA mutations (n = 12/64).
    explanation: >-
      Supports grouping PB-miRNA2 with the microRNA-processing altered axis of
      pineoblastoma biology.
- name: PB-MYC/FOXR2
  classification: epigenetic consensus subgroup
  description: >-
    Consensus subgroup characterized by FOXR2-associated oncogenic activation
    and poor outcomes in infants. This subgroup corresponds to the earlier
    PB-FOXR2 category from the SJ trial-based methylation analysis.
  genes:
  - preferred_term: FOXR2
    term:
      id: hgnc:30469
      label: FOXR2
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:41291966
    reference_title: "Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and
      8 PB-RB1 cases.
    explanation: >-
      Establishes PB-MYC/FOXR2 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma
      subgroups.
  - reference: PMID:31802236
    reference_title: "Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      PB-FOXR2 samples universally overexpressed the FOXR2 proto-oncogene.
    explanation: >-
      Supports FOXR2 overexpression as the defining driver signal for the
      FOXR2-associated pineoblastoma subgroup.
- name: PB-RB1
  classification: epigenetic consensus subgroup
  description: >-
    Consensus subgroup with RB1 pathway disruption, including tumors arising in
    the setting of trilateral retinoblastoma and sporadic pineal tumors with RB1
    alterations. Infant PB-RB1 cases have especially poor outcomes.
  genes:
  - preferred_term: RB1
    term:
      id: hgnc:9884
      label: RB1
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:41291966
    reference_title: "Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Our cohort consisted of 48 PB-miRNA1, 19 PB-miRNA2, 8 PB-MYC/FOXR2, and
      8 PB-RB1 cases.
    explanation: >-
      Establishes PB-RB1 as one of the current consensus pineoblastoma
      subgroups.
  - reference: PMID:31768671
    reference_title: "Molecular subgrouping of primary pineal parenchymal tumors reveals distinct subtypes correlated with clinical parameters and genetic alterations."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      The novel molecular subgroup Pin-RB includes cases of trilateral
      retinoblastoma as well as sporadic pineal tumors with RB1 alterations, and
      displays similarities with retinoblastoma.
    explanation: >-
      Supports RB1-altered pineoblastoma as a discrete molecular subgroup tied
      to retinoblastoma biology.
pathophysiology:
- name: MicroRNA-Processing Pathway Inactivation
  subtypes:
  - PB-miRNA1
  - PB-miRNA2
  description: >-
    A major pineoblastoma disease program involves recurrent disruption of the
    microRNA-processing machinery, especially DICER1, DROSHA, and DGCR8. This
    program defines the PB-miRNA consensus subgroups and links pineoblastoma to
    germline cancer predisposition contexts involving microRNA biogenesis genes.
  cell_types:
  - preferred_term: pinealocyte
    term:
      id: CL:0000652
      label: pinealocyte
  locations:
  - preferred_term: pineal body
    term:
      id: UBERON:0001905
      label: pineal body
  genes:
  - preferred_term: DICER1
    term:
      id: hgnc:17098
      label: DICER1
  - preferred_term: DROSHA
    term:
      id: hgnc:17904
      label: DROSHA
  - preferred_term: DGCR8
    term:
      id: hgnc:2847
      label: DGCR8
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31768671
    reference_title: "Molecular subgrouping of primary pineal parenchymal tumors reveals distinct subtypes correlated with clinical parameters and genetic alterations."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Alterations within the miRNA processing pathway (affecting DROSHA, DGCR8
      or DICER1) are found in about two thirds of cases in the three core PB
      subtypes.
    explanation: >-
      Identifies microRNA-processing pathway disruption as a central recurrent
      mechanism in pineoblastoma.
  - reference: PMID:41291966
    reference_title: "Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      PB-miRNA subtype tumors had characteristic alterations in
      microRNA-processing genes; DICER1 mutations (n = 19/64) and homozygous
      deletions of the DROSHA locus (n = 18/67) were most abundant, followed by
      DROSHA mutations (n = 12/64).
    explanation: >-
      Confirms that the PB-miRNA consensus groups are genetically defined by
      recurrent lesions in microRNA-processing genes.
  downstream:
  - target: Mature microRNA Depletion
    description: Loss of DICER1 or DROSHA function reduces mature microRNA output
- name: Mature microRNA Depletion
  subtypes:
  - PB-miRNA1
  - PB-miRNA2
  description: >-
    Defects in DROSHA or DICER1 reduce mature microRNA abundance, including the
    let-7/miR-98-5p family, and derepress microRNA target genes in developing
    pineal cells. This establishes a direct post-transcriptional mechanism that
    precedes the developmental and proliferative abnormalities of
    microRNA-defective pineoblastoma.
  cell_types:
  - preferred_term: pinealocyte
    term:
      id: CL:0000652
      label: pinealocyte
  locations:
  - preferred_term: pineal body
    term:
      id: UBERON:0001905
      label: pineal body
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:40240142
    reference_title: "An imbalance between proliferation and differentiation underlies the development of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: MODEL_ORGANISM
    snippet: >-
      Accordingly, these mice develop pineal tumors marked by loss of
      microRNAs, particularly the let-7/miR-98-5p family, and derepression of
      microRNA target genes.
    explanation: >-
      Directly supports mature microRNA depletion as an immediate mechanistic
      consequence of microRNA-processing gene loss in pineoblastoma models.
  downstream:
  - target: Proliferation-Differentiation Imbalance
    description: Loss of mature microRNAs derepresses programs that sustain embryonic proliferation
- name: Proliferation-Differentiation Imbalance
  subtypes:
  - PB-miRNA1
  - PB-miRNA2
  description: >-
    MicroRNA-defective pineoblastoma develops when proliferative programs remain
    active while pinealocyte maturation fails to complete. This imbalance links
    the microRNA-processing defect to the embryonal, poorly differentiated tumor
    state.
  cell_types:
  - preferred_term: pinealocyte
    term:
      id: CL:0000652
      label: pinealocyte
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: cell population proliferation
    modifier: INCREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0008283
      label: cell population proliferation
  - preferred_term: cell differentiation
    modifier: DECREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0030154
      label: cell differentiation
  locations:
  - preferred_term: pineal body
    term:
      id: UBERON:0001905
      label: pineal body
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:40240142
    reference_title: "An imbalance between proliferation and differentiation underlies the development of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: MODEL_ORGANISM
    snippet: >-
      Pineal tumors driven by loss of Drosha or Dicer1 mimic tumors driven by
      Rb1 loss, as they exhibit upregulation of S-phase genes and homeobox
      transcription factors that regulate pineal development.
    explanation: >-
      Supports abnormal coupling of persistent cell-cycle entry with a disrupted
      pineal developmental program.
  - reference: PMID:40240142
    reference_title: "An imbalance between proliferation and differentiation underlies the development of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: MODEL_ORGANISM
    snippet: >-
      Blocking proliferation of these tumors facilitates expression of
      pinealocyte maturation markers, with a concomitant reduction in embryonic
      markers.
    explanation: >-
      Shows that excessive proliferation and blocked differentiation are linked
      and partially reversible components of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma.
- name: RB1 Pathway Inactivation
  subtypes:
  - PB-RB1
  description: >-
    RB1 loss defines an aggressive pineoblastoma program that overlaps with
    trilateral retinoblastoma biology. This mechanism removes G1/S checkpoint
    control and underlies the RB1-associated pineoblastoma subgroup.
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: cell cycle checkpoint signaling
    modifier: DECREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0000075
      label: cell cycle checkpoint signaling
  - preferred_term: G1/S transition of mitotic cell cycle
    modifier: ABNORMAL
    term:
      id: GO:0000082
      label: G1/S transition of mitotic cell cycle
  genes:
  - preferred_term: RB1
    term:
      id: hgnc:9884
      label: RB1
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31768671
    reference_title: "Molecular subgrouping of primary pineal parenchymal tumors reveals distinct subtypes correlated with clinical parameters and genetic alterations."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      The novel molecular subgroup Pin-RB includes cases of trilateral
      retinoblastoma as well as sporadic pineal tumors with RB1 alterations, and
      displays similarities with retinoblastoma.
    explanation: >-
      Supports RB1-pathway loss as the defining mechanism of the RB1-associated
      pineoblastoma subgroup.
- name: FOXR2 Oncogenic Activation
  subtypes:
  - PB-MYC/FOXR2
  description: >-
    A distinct pineoblastoma subgroup is driven by FOXR2 overexpression,
    indicating FOXR2-centered oncogenic transcriptional activation rather than
    microRNA-processing or RB1 loss as the dominant causal program.
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: cell population proliferation
    modifier: INCREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0008283
      label: cell population proliferation
  genes:
  - preferred_term: FOXR2
    term:
      id: hgnc:30469
      label: FOXR2
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31802236
    reference_title: "Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      PB-FOXR2 samples universally overexpressed the FOXR2 proto-oncogene.
    explanation: >-
      Directly supports FOXR2 overexpression as the defining driver signal of
      the FOXR2-associated subgroup.
- name: OTX2 Copy-Number Gain
  description: >-
    OTX2 gain is a frequent recurrent event across pineoblastoma subtypes,
    supporting a subtype-spanning oncogenic role for OTX2 in pineoblastoma
    pathogenesis.
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: cell population proliferation
    modifier: INCREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0008283
      label: cell population proliferation
  genes:
  - preferred_term: OTX2
    term:
      id: hgnc:8522
      label: OTX2
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:41291966
    reference_title: "Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      OTX2 gain represented the most frequent alteration that occurred in
      37/83 PB of all subtypes.
    explanation: >-
      Supports OTX2 gain as a recurrent cross-subtype oncogenic event in
      pineoblastoma.
histopathology:
- name: Pineoblastoma Histology
  finding_term:
    preferred_term: Pineoblastoma
    term:
      id: NCIT:C9344
      label: Pineoblastoma
  frequency: VERY_FREQUENT
  diagnostic: true
  description: >-
    Pineoblastoma is an embryonal pineal parenchymal malignancy with distinct
    photosensory differentiation features on histopathology.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:11767290
    reference_title: "Pathology of pineal region tumors."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      In contrast, pineoblastomas are embryonal tumors resembling primitive
      neuroectodermal tumors (PNET).
    explanation: >-
      Supports the embryonal histopathologic identity of pineoblastoma among
      pineal parenchymal tumors.
- name: Homer Wright Rosettes
  finding_term:
    preferred_term: Homer Wright rosette
    term:
      id: HP:0031926
      label: Homer Wright rosette
  diagnostic: true
  description: >-
    Homer Wright rosettes are a classic microscopic feature of pineoblastoma and
    support its embryonal neuroectodermal morphology.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:6986979
    reference_title: "The separation of pineocytoma from pineoblastoma."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Histologically they are also similar to the
      medulloblastoma-neuroblastoma group and are characterized by the scarcity
      of cytoplasmic processes and by the Homer Wright rosette.
    explanation: >-
      Supports Homer Wright rosettes as a defining microscopic feature of
      pineoblastoma.
- name: Flexner-Wintersteiner Rosettes
  finding_term:
    preferred_term: Flexner-Wintersteiner rosette
    term:
      id: HP:0031927
      label: Flexner-Wintersteiner rosette
  diagnostic: true
  description: >-
    Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes indicate photosensory differentiation and
    help distinguish pineoblastoma from other primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:11767290
    reference_title: "Pathology of pineal region tumors."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      However, pineoblastomas are distinct from PNET in other sites due to their
      exhibiting photosensory differentiation including
      Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes and fleurettes.
    explanation: >-
      Supports Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes as a distinguishing microscopic
      finding in pineoblastoma.
- name: Fleurette Formation
  finding_term:
    preferred_term: Fleurette Formation
    term:
      id: NCIT:C35950
      label: Fleurette Formation
  description: >-
    Fleurettes reflect photosensory differentiation in pineoblastoma and can
    help separate it from other embryonal central nervous system tumors.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:11767290
    reference_title: "Pathology of pineal region tumors."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      However, pineoblastomas are distinct from PNET in other sites due to their
      exhibiting photosensory differentiation including
      Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes and fleurettes.
    explanation: >-
      Supports fleurettes as part of the photosensory differentiation pattern of
      pineoblastoma histopathology.
phenotypes:
- category: Neurologic
  name: Headache
  frequency: FREQUENT
  diagnostic: false
  description: >-
    Headache is a common early presenting symptom caused by obstructive
    hydrocephalus and raised intracranial pressure from the pineal region mass.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Headache
    term:
      id: HP:0002315
      label: Headache
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:32286280
    reference_title: "Modeling germline mutations in pineoblastoma uncovers lysosome disruption-based therapy."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Early symptoms include headache, ocular disturbance, ataxia and increased
      intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus.
    explanation: >-
      Supports headache as a typical presenting symptom in pineoblastoma.
- category: Neurologic
  name: Ataxia
  frequency: OCCASIONAL
  diagnostic: false
  description: >-
    Ataxia may occur at presentation because the tumor and associated
    hydrocephalus disrupt posterior fossa and midline brain circuitry.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Ataxia
    term:
      id: HP:0001251
      label: Ataxia
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:32286280
    reference_title: "Modeling germline mutations in pineoblastoma uncovers lysosome disruption-based therapy."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Early symptoms include headache, ocular disturbance, ataxia and increased
      intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus.
    explanation: >-
      Supports ataxia as a presenting neurologic symptom in pineoblastoma.
- category: Neurologic
  name: Hydrocephalus
  frequency: FREQUENT
  diagnostic: true
  description: >-
    Obstructive hydrocephalus is common in pineoblastoma because the pineal
    region mass can block cerebrospinal fluid pathways and raise intracranial
    pressure.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Hydrocephalus
    term:
      id: HP:0000238
      label: Hydrocephalus
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:32286280
    reference_title: "Modeling germline mutations in pineoblastoma uncovers lysosome disruption-based therapy."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Early symptoms include headache, ocular disturbance, ataxia and increased
      intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus.
    explanation: >-
      Supports hydrocephalus as a common consequence of pineoblastoma location.
genetic:
- name: DICER1
  gene_term:
    preferred_term: DICER1
    term:
      id: hgnc:17098
      label: DICER1
  association: Germline and Somatic Alterations
  notes: >-
    DICER1 is a recurrent pineoblastoma predisposition and tumor gene, especially
    in PB-miRNA subgroup disease. Both germline predisposition and tumor-specific
    alterations are implicated in pathogenesis.
- name: DROSHA
  gene_term:
    preferred_term: DROSHA
    term:
      id: hgnc:17904
      label: DROSHA
  association: Germline and Somatic Alterations
  notes: >-
    DROSHA is a recurrent microRNA-processing gene altered in pineoblastoma.
    Germline DROSHA pathogenic variants define a recently recognized tumor
    predisposition state strongly linked to PB-miRNA1 tumors.
- name: DGCR8
  gene_term:
    preferred_term: DGCR8
    term:
      id: hgnc:2847
      label: DGCR8
  association: Somatic Alterations
  notes: >-
    DGCR8 participates in the microprocessor complex and is recurrently altered
    in microRNA-processing defective pineoblastoma.
- name: RB1
  gene_term:
    preferred_term: RB1
    term:
      id: hgnc:9884
      label: RB1
  association: Germline and Somatic Alterations
  notes: >-
    RB1 alterations underlie the RB1-associated pineoblastoma subgroup,
    including tumors occurring as part of trilateral retinoblastoma.
- name: FOXR2
  gene_term:
    preferred_term: FOXR2
    term:
      id: hgnc:30469
      label: FOXR2
  association: Oncogenic Overexpression
  notes: >-
    FOXR2 overexpression defines the FOXR2-associated pineoblastoma subgroup.
- name: OTX2
  gene_term:
    preferred_term: OTX2
    term:
      id: hgnc:8522
      label: OTX2
  association: Copy-Number Gain
  notes: >-
    OTX2 gain is a frequent cross-subtype event that supports a broader
    oncogenic role in pineoblastoma biology.
treatments:
- name: Maximal Safe Surgical Resection
  description: >-
    Initial management centers on maximal safe surgical excision for diagnosis,
    decompression, and cytoreduction before adjuvant therapy.
  therapeutic_modality: SURGERY
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: surgical resection
    term:
      id: NCIT:C15329
      label: Surgical Procedure
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:40778560
    reference_title: "Outcomes of Infants and Young Children With CNS Embryonal Tumors Using Pre-Irradiation Chemotherapy: A Decade Long Experience."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      They were treated with maximal safe surgical excision followed by
      pre-irradiation chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, etoposide and carboplatin)
      up to 36 months of age or till disease progression, followed by either
      craniospinal (standard 35Gy or reduced-dose 23.4 Gy) with boost to a total
      of 54.8 Gy or focal irradiation depending on attained age, residual tumor,
      and metastasis.
    explanation: >-
      Supports maximal safe surgical excision as part of standard multimodal
      pineoblastoma therapy.
- name: Craniospinal Irradiation
  description: >-
    Craniospinal irradiation remains a core component of treatment for many
    patients, with dose adapted to risk group and age.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: Craniospinal Irradiation
    term:
      id: NCIT:C116437
      label: Craniospinal Irradiation
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31802236
    reference_title: "Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      Pineoblastoma is a rare embryonal tumor of childhood that is conventionally
      treated with high-dose craniospinal irradiation (CSI).
    explanation: >-
      Supports craniospinal irradiation as a standard modality in pineoblastoma.
  - reference: PMID:31802236
    reference_title: "Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      The SJMB03 protocol comprised risk-adapted CSI (average-risk = 23.4 Gy,
      high-risk = 36 Gy) with radiation boost to the primary site and adjuvant
      chemotherapy.
    explanation: >-
      Provides protocol-level evidence for risk-adapted craniospinal irradiation
      in older children.
- name: Multi-agent Chemotherapy
  description: >-
    Chemotherapy is routinely combined with surgery and radiation, and in infants
    may be used before irradiation to delay or modify radiotherapy exposure.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: chemotherapy
    term:
      id: NCIT:C15632
      label: Chemotherapy
    therapeutic_agent:
    - preferred_term: cyclophosphamide
      term:
        id: CHEBI:4027
        label: cyclophosphamide
    - preferred_term: etoposide
      term:
        id: CHEBI:4911
        label: etoposide
    - preferred_term: carboplatin
      term:
        id: CHEBI:31355
        label: carboplatin
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31802236
    reference_title: "Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      The SJYC07 protocol consisted of induction chemotherapy, consolidation with
      focal radiation (intermediate-risk) or chemotherapy (high-risk), and
      metronomic maintenance therapy.
    explanation: >-
      Supports protocol-based chemotherapy use in young children with
      pineoblastoma.
  - reference: PMID:40778560
    reference_title: "Outcomes of Infants and Young Children With CNS Embryonal Tumors Using Pre-Irradiation Chemotherapy: A Decade Long Experience."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      They were treated with maximal safe surgical excision followed by
      pre-irradiation chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, etoposide and carboplatin)
      up to 36 months of age or till disease progression, followed by either
      craniospinal (standard 35Gy or reduced-dose 23.4 Gy) with boost to a total
      of 54.8 Gy or focal irradiation depending on attained age, residual tumor,
      and metastasis.
    explanation: >-
      Supports a common pediatric chemotherapy backbone used in the
      pre-irradiation setting for pineoblastoma.
classifications:
  icdo_morphology:
    classification_value: Embryonal Neoplasm
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:11767290
      reference_title: "Pathology of pineal region tumors."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: OTHER
      snippet: >-
        In contrast, pineoblastomas are embryonal tumors resembling primitive
        neuroectodermal tumors (PNET).
      explanation: >-
        Supports classification of pineoblastoma as an embryonal neoplasm.
  harrisons_chapter:
  - classification_value: ONCOLOGY_HEMATOLOGY
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:31768671
      reference_title: "Molecular subgrouping of primary pineal parenchymal tumors reveals distinct subtypes correlated with clinical parameters and genetic alterations."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: >-
        pineoblastoma (PB) constitutes a highly aggressive malignancy of
        childhood with a poor outcome.
      explanation: >-
        Supports classifying pineoblastoma as a malignant cancer.
    - reference: PMID:31802236
      reference_title: "Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: >-
        Pineoblastoma is a rare embryonal tumor of childhood that is
        conventionally treated with high-dose craniospinal irradiation (CSI).
      explanation: >-
        Supports classifying pineoblastoma as a pediatric solid embryonal tumor.
mappings:
  mondo_mappings:
  - term:
      id: MONDO:0016722
      label: pineoblastoma
    mapping_predicate: skos:exactMatch
    mapping_source: MONDO
    mapping_justification: Primary MONDO disease identifier for this pineoblastoma entry.
references:
- reference: PMID:31768671
  title: Molecular subgrouping of primary pineal parenchymal tumors reveals distinct subtypes correlated with clinical parameters and genetic alterations.
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:31802236
  title: "Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials."
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:32286280
  title: Modeling germline mutations in pineoblastoma uncovers lysosome disruption-based therapy.
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:39992227
  title: Germline Pathogenic DROSHA Variants Are Linked to Pineoblastoma and Wilms Tumor Predisposition.
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:40240142
  title: An imbalance between proliferation and differentiation underlies the development of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma.
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:40778560
  title: "Outcomes of Infants and Young Children With CNS Embryonal Tumors Using Pre-Irradiation Chemotherapy: A Decade Long Experience."
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:41291966
  title: Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes.
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:6986979
  title: The separation of pineocytoma from pineoblastoma.
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
- reference: PMID:11767290
  title: Pathology of pineal region tumors.
  found_in:
  - Pineoblastoma-deep-research-openai.md
review_notes: >-
  This curation follows the cancer modeling guidance from issue 1198 using the
  Wilms tumor pattern: Pineoblastoma remains a single disease-level dismech
  entry, while PB-miRNA1, PB-miRNA2, PB-MYC/FOXR2, and PB-RB1 are represented as
  flat subtype facets rather than separate disorder pages. MONDO is used as the
  canonical disease term. Oncology-specific NCIT grounding is added where the
  current schema supports it directly, including histopathology terms and
  embryonal morphology classification.
datasets:
- accession: geo:GSE133801
  title: DNA methylation analysis of pineoblastoma
  description: Pineoblastoma is a rare and aggressive embryonal tumor of childhood. The molecular heterogeneity within has not been systematically evaluated. In this study, we used methylation profiling to compare the signatures of pineoblastoma and other pineal parenchymal tumors to a reference cohort of brain tumor entities (GSE90496) , clinically relevant epigenomic subgroups with characteristics genomic/transcriptomic features are described.
  organism:
    preferred_term: human
    term:
      id: NCBITaxon:9606
      label: Homo sapiens
  data_type: METHYLATION
  sample_count: 43
  publication: PMID:31802236
  notes: Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Pineoblastoma (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.
- accession: geo:GSE255914
  title: Drosha loss drives pineoblastoma by upregulating Ccnd2
  organism:
    preferred_term: mouse
    term:
      id: NCBITaxon:10090
      label: Mus musculus
  data_type: BULK_RNA_SEQ
  sample_count: 64
  publication: PMID:40240142
  notes: Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Pineoblastoma (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.
- accession: geo:GSE180868
  title: A temporal in vivo catalog of chromatin accessibility and expression profiles in pineoblastoma reveals a prevalent role for repressor elements
  description: Pediatric pineoblastomas (PBs) are rare and aggressive tumors of grade IV histology. Although some oncogenic drivers are characterized, including germline mutations in RB1 and DICER1, the role of epigenetic deregulation and cis-regulatory regions in PB pathogenesis and progression is largely unknown. Here, we generated genome-wide gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and H3K27ac profiles covering key time points of PB initiation and progression from pineal tissues of a mouse model of CCND1-driven PB.
  organism:
    preferred_term: mouse
    term:
      id: NCBITaxon:10090
      label: Mus musculus
  data_type: MULTI_OMICS
  sample_count: 19
  publication: PMID:36650051
  notes: Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Pineoblastoma (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.
- accession: ega:EGAS00001003783
  title: Molecular characterization of pineoblastoma
  organism:
    preferred_term: human
    term:
      id: NCBITaxon:9606
      label: Homo sapiens
  notes: 'European Genome-phenome Archive study, matched because the disease is named in the study''s own title ("Pineoblastoma"); description-level mentions were not accepted. EGA study_type: Cancer Genomics. Controlled access -- data require a Data Access Agreement. EGA metadata retrieved 2026-08-01.'
📚

References & Deep Research

References

9
PMID:31768671
Molecular subgrouping of primary pineal parenchymal tumors reveals distinct subtypes correlated with clinical parameters and genetic alterations.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:31802236
Risk-adapted therapy and biological heterogeneity in pineoblastoma: integrated clinico-pathological analysis from the prospective, multi-center SJMB03 and SJYC07 trials.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:32286280
Modeling germline mutations in pineoblastoma uncovers lysosome disruption-based therapy.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:39992227
Germline Pathogenic DROSHA Variants Are Linked to Pineoblastoma and Wilms Tumor Predisposition.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:40240142
An imbalance between proliferation and differentiation underlies the development of microRNA-defective pineoblastoma.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:40778560
Outcomes of Infants and Young Children With CNS Embryonal Tumors Using Pre-Irradiation Chemotherapy: A Decade Long Experience.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:41291966
Recurrent genetic alterations in epigenetically defined pineoblastoma subtypes.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:6986979
The separation of pineocytoma from pineoblastoma.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
PMID:11767290
Pathology of pineal region tumors.
No top-level findings curated for this source.

Deep Research

1
OpenAI ▸
Pineoblastoma Deep Research
gpt-5.4 9 citations 2026-04-13T05:34:38Z

Pineoblastoma Deep Research

Disease anchor

  • Preferred disease-level term: MONDO:0016722 pineoblastoma.
  • Oncology-specific histopathology grounding used in the disease entry: NCIT:C9344 Pineoblastoma and NCIT:C3264 Embryonal Neoplasm.
  • Disease-level modeling choice: one Pineoblastoma dismech page with flat subtype facets, not separate pages for every ontology subclass or molecular subgroup.

Modeling notes from issue #1198

  • The mechanism graph unit is the disease entry, so the file is kb/disorders/Pineoblastoma.yaml, not separate files for PB-miRNA1, PB-miRNA2, PB-MYC/FOXR2, or PB-RB1.
  • disease_term is MONDO-first: MONDO:0016722.
  • NCIT is added where schema-supported and materially useful for oncology specificity, especially histopathology and morphology.
  • Molecular subgroup labels are modeled as flat subtype facets with classification: epigenetic consensus subgroup.
  • Subtype labels provide grounding and slicing context only; they do not imply separate disease pages or "Not Yet Curated" badges.

Subtype framework

  • Older methylation-era nomenclature from PMID:31802236: PB-A, PB-B, PB-B-like, PB-FOXR2
  • Updated epigenetic consensus nomenclature from PMID:41291966: PB-miRNA1, PB-miRNA2, PB-MYC/FOXR2, PB-RB1
  • Mapping implication for curation: the older names should be treated as earlier cohort labels, while the current disease entry should foreground the 2025 consensus groups.

Disease biology

1. MicroRNA-processing defective pineoblastoma

  • PMID:31768671 reports that alterations affecting DROSHA, DGCR8, or DICER1 occur in about two thirds of the core pineoblastoma subtypes.
  • PMID:41291966 refines this into the PB-miRNA1 and PB-miRNA2 consensus groups, with characteristic microRNA-processing gene alterations and frequent chromosome 7 gain / chromosome 14 loss.
  • PMID:39992227 connects germline DROSHA pathogenic variants to inherited pineoblastoma predisposition and places all analyzed predisposition tumors in the miRNA processing-altered 1 subgroup.

2. Developmental mechanism of miRNA-defective disease

  • PMID:40240142 provides mechanistic model-organism evidence that loss of Drosha or Dicer1 in the developing pineal gland causes tumors with loss of mature microRNAs, derepression of targets, S-phase upregulation, and impaired pinealocyte maturation.
  • The paper supports a mechanistic chain of: microRNA-processing loss -> mature microRNA depletion -> proliferation-differentiation imbalance.
  • PLAGL2 emerges there as a downstream progrowth target, but in the disease entry it is kept subordinate to the more established disease-level mechanism nodes rather than promoted to its own top-level subtype program.

3. RB1-associated pineoblastoma

  • PMID:31768671 defines a distinct Pin-RB subgroup that includes trilateral retinoblastoma and sporadic pineal tumors with RB1 alterations.
  • PMID:41291966 incorporates this biology into the consensus PB-RB1 subgroup and notes especially poor outcomes in infants.
  • This justified a dedicated RB1 Pathway Inactivation mechanism node tagged to subtype PB-RB1, rather than splitting off a separate Pineoblastoma/RB1 disease file.

4. FOXR2-associated pineoblastoma

  • PMID:31802236 shows that PB-FOXR2 tumors universally overexpress FOXR2.
  • PMID:41291966 carries this forward as consensus PB-MYC/FOXR2.
  • This was modeled as a distinct subtype-tagged causal program (FOXR2 Oncogenic Activation) without creating a separate disease page.

5. Cross-subtype oncogenic event

  • PMID:41291966 reports OTX2 gain as the most frequent recurrent alteration across all pineoblastoma subtypes.
  • Because that event spans subtype boundaries, it belongs in the disease-level graph as a shared mechanism node, not as a subtype or separate disease file.

Histopathology

  • PMID:11767290 characterizes pineoblastoma as an embryonal tumor with photosensory differentiation, including Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes and fleurettes.
  • PMID:6986979 identifies Homer Wright rosettes and cerebrospinal fluid spread as classic pineoblastoma findings.
  • Histopathology terms used in the disease entry: NCIT:C9344 Pineoblastoma HP:0031926 Homer Wright rosette HP:0031927 Flexner-Wintersteiner rosette NCIT:C35950 Fleurette Formation

Clinical presentation

  • PMID:32286280 notes that early symptoms include headache, ocular disturbance, ataxia, and hydrocephalus from increased intracranial pressure.
  • The disease entry uses ontology-grounded phenotype terms for the best-supported symptoms from that source: headache, ataxia, and hydrocephalus.

Treatment

  • PMID:31802236 describes risk-adapted craniospinal irradiation and chemotherapy in SJMB03 and induction/consolidation/maintenance chemotherapy approaches in SJYC07.
  • PMID:40778560 adds a modern infant/young-child treatment pattern using maximal safe surgery followed by cyclophosphamide/etoposide/carboplatin and then craniospinal or focal irradiation depending on risk context.
  • The disease entry therefore focuses treatment curation on: maximal safe surgical resection, craniospinal irradiation, multi-agent chemotherapy.
  • Preclinical lysosome-disruption therapy from PMID:32286280 is kept in research context rather than represented as standard treatment, because it remains model-based and investigational.

References used for YAML evidence

  • PMID:31768671
  • PMID:31802236
  • PMID:32286280
  • PMID:39992227
  • PMID:40240142
  • PMID:40778560
  • PMID:41291966
  • PMID:6986979
  • PMID:11767290