Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2026; 16(1): 115070
Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.115070
Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.115070
DNA methylation profiling in central nervous system tumors: Where do we draw the line of clinical utility?
Sumanta Das, Department of Pathology, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong 793018, Meghālaya, India
Author contributions: Das S was responsible for the concept of the editorial manuscript, writing, editing, data collection, interpretation, and review.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest related to this work.
Corresponding author: Sumanta Das, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong 793018, Meghālaya, India. sumantad755@gmail.com
Received: October 9, 2025
Revised: November 9, 2025
Accepted: February 3, 2026
Published online: March 20, 2026
Processing time: 159 Days and 13.7 Hours
Revised: November 9, 2025
Accepted: February 3, 2026
Published online: March 20, 2026
Processing time: 159 Days and 13.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: DNA methylation profiling has revolutionized central nervous system tumor classification by providing objective, reproducible, and prognostically relevant molecular signatures. However, its integration into routine neuropathology practice requires judicious application. This editorial highlights the need to balance diagnostic precision with practical limitations such as cost, accessibility, and turnaround time. We emphasize that methylation profiling should complement, not replace, conventional histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and targeted molecular assays, reserved for diagnostically ambiguous or high-impact cases where it can meaningfully influence patient management.