A novel preclinical biopsy technique and new insights into a rare subtype of paediatric ependymoma

Ependymoma represents the third most common brain tumour in the paediatric population. Contemporary management is based on gross total surgical resection and adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. To date no chemotherapy has improved on overall survival. New insights into the underlying molecular drivers have enabled the design of more accurate animal models that recapitulate the human disease. This overview provides a look into paediatric ependymoma and the way in which translational research is advancing more target-specific appraoches to its management. A novel technique of serial brain tissue biopsy in glioma mouse models is presented.