Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-derived cell-free DNA holds promise for CNS tumors, but its limited yield poses challenges. A study now presents M-PACT, a framework that uses sub-nanogram CSF-derived cell-free DNA methylomes for tumor classification, paving the way for minimally invasive diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors.
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A.M.M. reports stock ownership and scientific advisory board membership in NeOnc; consulting and scientific advisory board roles with GSK, Nuvation Bio, Modifi Bio and ProteinQure; and scientific advisory board membership with the Daniel W. Offit Fund to Fight Glioblastoma. C.S.F. has no competing interests to report.
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Fang, C.S., Miller, A.M. Decoding pediatric brain tumors via CSF-derived methylomes. Nat Cancer (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-026-01139-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-026-01139-w
