Causes

The cause of Medulloblastoma is mostly unknown.

Research has been carried out to find possible environmental causes, for example, the use of mobile phones, or food additives but nothing definite has been identified. Radiotherapy to the brain is thought to increase the risk.

With certain hereditary conditions, i.e. Turcot syndrome or Gorlin syndrome, there is a slightly greater chance of developing a medulloblastoma. This occurs in approximately 5% of cases.

Current research is focusing on understanding some of the possible genetic pathways that may be involved in the development of medulloblastoma.

For further information on research, click on the links:

• Evaluation of the Dietary Additive Aspartame (‘Nutrasweet’) as a risk factor for central nervous system tumours
• UK case control study of possible causes of brain tumours of children, teenagers and young adults: A pilot study (.pdf file)
• The Molecular basis of childhood medulloblastoma: from genomics to improved therapies (.pdf file)
• A new approach to the Localisation of genes involved in Paediatric Brain Tumours using comparative Genomic Hybridisation