Rapid DNA methylation-based classification of pediatric brain tumours from ultrasonic aspirate specimens

Cavitating ultrasonic aspirator devices are frequently used in pediatric neurosurgery for efficient microsurgical resection of brain tumours while minimizing tissue damage to surrounding healthy brain. Within this study molecular diagnostics using methylation-based classification of ultrasonic aspirated samples was performed and performance against routine microarray diagnostics was assessed. 21 pediatric brain tumor cases acquired by an ultrasonic-cavitating aspirator were submitted to DNA extration, quality control and library preparation with subsequent six hour nanopore sequencing. Classification of cases was performed using a neural network classification model and classification calls were compared to routine microarray diagnostics. ***Submitter declares that the raw data has been deposited at European Genome Archive due to local regulations***