Medulloblastoma genes as targets for diagnosis and therapeutics

A method of characterizing a medulloblastoma in a human, comprising the steps of:

• assaying a gene or its encoded mRNA, cDNA, or protein in a test sample relative to a normal sample of the human to determine a somatic mutation in the gene or its encoded mRNA, cDNA, or protein, said gene selected from the group consisting of those listed in Table S3, S4, S5, or 2.

A method of classifying a medulloblastoma tumor, comprising:

• testing a gene or its encoded mRNA, cDNA, or protein in a sample of the medulloblastoma for a mutation in MLL2 or MLL3 gene or its encoded mRNA, cDNA, or protein;
• classifying the medulloblastoma into a group that shares its MLL2 or MLL3 mutation status.

A method of treating a medulloblastoma in a human, comprising:

• administering a wild-type human MLL2 or MLL3 coding sequence to a patient with a mutation in MLL2 or MLL3 in its medulloblastoma, whereby the coding sequence is expressed.

A method of detecting a medulloblastoma in a human, comprising:

• testing a blood sample of the human for the presence of a mutant MLL2 or MLL3 coding sequence, wherein the presence of said sequence indicates a medulloblastoma in the human.

A method of treating a medulloblastoma in a human, comprising:

• administering a wild-type human coding sequence of a gene selected from the group consisting of those listed in Table S3, S4, S5, or 2 to a patient with a mutation in said gene in its medulloblastoma, whereby the coding sequence is expressed.

A method of detecting a medulloblastoma in a human, comprising:

• testing a blood sample of the human for the presence of a mutant coding sequence of a gene selected from the group consisting of those listed in Table S3, S4, S5, or 2, wherein the presence of said sequence indicates a medulloblastoma in the human.