Cancer Genetics and Oncogenomic in Pediatric Solid Tumors: From Precision Biomarkers to Minimal Residual Disease

Over the past decade, advances in cancer genetics and oncogenomic have profoundly reshaped our understanding of pediatric tumors. Unlike adult cancers, pediatric malignancies typically harbor a lower mutational burden but are driven by distinct developmental, structural, and epigenetic alterations. Technological breakthroughs, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), DNA methylation profiling, digital PCR (dPCR), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, have enabled highly sensitive detection of minimal residual disease (MRD), improved risk stratification, monitoring of clonal evolution and relapse, and identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. These genomic and epigenomic tools are increasingly integrated into clinical practice, supporting precision-guided therapeutic approaches that enhance survival while minimizing overtreatment and long-term toxicity. Nevertheless, important challenges remain, including assay standardization, clinical validation, equitable access, and effective integration of molecular biomarkers into routine pediatric oncology care across diverse healthcare systems.This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in genomic and epigenomic biomarkers in pediatric tumors, emphasizing their biological, translational, and clinical relevance. It seeks to explore emerging technologies for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, including liquid biopsy approaches, ultra-sensitive sequencing strategies, and methylation-based assays, and to examine how these tools are reshaping disease monitoring and early relapse detection. The collection will critically assess the clinical utility of molecular biomarkers implemented over the past decade, highlighting their roles in risk stratification, prognostic modeling, therapy selection, and treatment adaptation. Furthermore, it will discuss how insights from cancer genetics and oncogenomic have contributed to improved survival outcomes and the advancement of precision medicine in pediatric oncology. Finally, this Topic aims to identify current limitations, including challenges in standardization, validation, and equitable access, and to outline future directions needed to advance biomarker-driven care and ensure broader clinical implementation across diverse healthcare settings.We welcome Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Meta-analyses, Reviews, Perspectives, and Methodological papers aligned with the Topic scope. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) using ctDNA, digital PCR, ultra-deep sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and methylation-based assays• Identification and characterization of genomic drivers, including structural variants, germline predisposition, mutational signatures, and clonal evolution• Epigenomic classifiers and chromatin dysregulation in pediatric cancers• Integration of multi-omics approaches (bulk and single-cell) for biomarker discovery and validation• Biomarker validation, risk stratification, prognostic modeling, and treatment monitoring• Implementation of biomarkers in clinical trials and precision oncology strategies• Standardization, regulatory considerations, and challenges in clinical adoption• Health equity and global access to molecular diagnostics in pediatric oncology• Emerging technologies such as single-cell sequencing, long-read sequencing, and AI-driven biomarker discovery Topic editors: Talita Aguiar, Guilherme Henrique Souza Bomfim Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78974/cancer-genetics-and-oncogenomic-in-pediatric-solid-tumors-from-precision-biomarkers-to-minimal-residual-disease