Advanced Pediatric Diffuse Pontine Glioma Murine Models Pave the Way towards Precision Medicine

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas are malignant brain tumors which arise from the pons in children. These tumors are incurable and nearly all the patients die within a year after diagnosis. To identify effective therapeutics, the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis need be comprehensively understood and advanced mouse DIPG models have to be developed for further therapeutic assessment. Over the past decade, remarkable research progress has been made, leading to several ongoing clinical trials. In this review, we update the molecular findings and summarize innovative mouse models generated in the past few years, that are used to understand DIPG and help identify potential treatments. We also prospect future directions for the development of next generation DIPG mouse models. ABSTRACT: Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) account for ~15% of pediatric brain tumors, which invariably present with poor survival regardless of treatment mode. Several seminal studies have revealed that 80% of DIPGs harbor H3K27M mutation coded by HIST1H3B, HIST1H3C and H3F3A genes. The H3K27M mutation has broad effects on gene expression and is considered a tumor driver. Determination of the effects of H3K27M on posttranslational histone modifications and gene regulations in DIPG is critical for identifying effective therapeutic targets. Advanced animal models play critical roles in translating these cutting-edge findings into clinical trial development. Here, we review current molecular research progress associated with DIPG. We also summarize DIPG animal models, highlighting novel genomic engineered mouse models (GEMMs) and innovative humanized DIPG mouse models. These models will pave the way towards personalized precision medicine for the treatment of DIPGs.