Solid tumors
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a malignant brain tumor that begins in the cerebellum and can spread through cerebrospinal fluid. Molecular subgroup, age and disease spread help determine risk and treatment.
Other names and abbreviations
MB · cerebellar PNET · posterior fossa embryonal tumor · Cerebellar primitive neuroectodermal tumour (obsolete umbrella term) · medulloblastoma molecular groups
Where transplant fits
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue is used in selected young-child or relapse protocols. It returns the patient’s own cells and is not a routine indication for an unrelated marrow donor.
Treatment depends on the exact diagnosis, disease stage, prior treatment and the person’s health. These categories are not estimates of donor demand.
Treatment at a glance
- Who it affects
- Medulloblastoma mainly affects children but can occur in adults.
- Other treatment options
- Treatment uses surgery with chemotherapy and age- and risk-adapted radiation. In younger children, some protocols use intensive chemotherapy to delay or reduce radiation exposure; recurrent disease needs an individualized plan.
- Cells used for transplantation
- The patient’s own collected blood-forming cells for autologous stem cell rescue, when that procedure is appropriate.
Questions to bring to your care team
What is the exact diagnosis or subtype? What is the goal of each treatment option? If transplant is being considered, why does it fit this situation, which cells would be used and what are the alternatives?
Sources and further reading
- Childhood Medulloblastoma and Other CNS Embryonal Tumors Treatment (PDQ)
NCI · Accessed 2026-09-05 - Indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR-T: 2025 EBMT practice recommendations
EBMT / Bone Marrow Transplantation · Accessed 2026-09-05 - Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants for Cancer
NCI · Accessed 2026-09-05
Understanding can become action.
Some patients need a blood stem cell donor. Others receive different treatment. Wherever your interest began, you can help JBF reach more people who may be able to donate.
Explore the official registry serving where you live. It explains who can join, how registration works and what donation involves.
Find your official registryIf joining is not right for you, a gift to the Jada Bascom Foundation supports education, outreach and referrals to official registries.
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