Neuro-oncology

Genome-wide methylation profiling is transforming the way clinicians approach brain tumor diagnosis. By analyzing epigenetic patterns across the genome, this advanced testing method provides a new level of precision, helping resolve ambiguous cases, reduce diagnostic variability, and support more confident clinical decision-making in complex CNS tumors.

In August of 2021, 28-year-old Mike Knudson, a Twin Cities resident known for his vibrant and active lifestyle, set out on what he anticipated to be an adventurous hiking vacation to the picturesque Glacier National Park in Montana. Little did he know that this journey in nature would be the start of an unexpected life path.

As part of Mayo Clinic’s Neuro-Oncology practice, the Division of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics tests about 50 brain tumors a week, and upwards of 1,500 brain tumors a year from all over the world.