Epigenetic age acceleration among survivors of pediatric medulloblastoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor

Survivors of childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors experience early-onset aging-related phenotypes. DNA methylation (DNAm) age is an emerging epigenetic biomarker of physiologic age and may be predictive of chronic health conditions in long-term survivors. This report describes the course of epigenetic age acceleration using post-diagnosis blood samples (median: 3.9 years post-diagnosis; range: 0.04-15.96) from 83 survivors of pediatric CNS tumors. Epigenetic age acceleration was detected in 72% of patients, with an average difference between chronologic and DNAm age of 2.58 years (95% CI: 1.75-3.41, p < 0.001). Time from diagnosis to sample collection correlated with the magnitude of epigenetic age acceleration.

Automated summary

Survivors of childhood central nervous system tumors may experience early-onset aging-related phenotypes. DNA methylation age, as an emerging biomarker, can predict the chronic health conditions of long-term survivors. This study explores the epigenetic age acceleration in survivors of pediatric CNS tumors using blood samples collected post-diagnosis.