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Masciale V, Banchelli F, Grisendi G, Samarelli AV, Raineri G, Rossi T, Zanoni M, Cortesi M, Bandini S, Ulivi P, Martinelli G, Stella F, Dominici M, Aramini B. The molecular features of lung cancer stem cells in dedifferentiation process-driven epigenetic alterations. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107994. [PMID: 39547513 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 10/30/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 11/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be dedifferentiated somatic cells following oncogenic processes, representing a subpopulation of cells able to promote tumor growth with their capacities for proliferation and self-renewal, inducing lineage heterogeneity, which may be a main cause of resistance to therapies. It has been shown that the "less differentiated process" may have an impact on tumor plasticity, particularly when non-CSCs may dedifferentiate and become CSC-like. Bidirectional interconversion between CSCs and non-CSCs has been reported in other solid tumors, where the inflammatory stroma promotes cell reprogramming by enhancing Wnt signaling through nuclear factor kappa B activation in association with intracellular signaling, which may induce cells' pluripotency, the oncogenic transformation can be considered another important aspect in the acquisition of "new" development programs with oncogenic features. During cell reprogramming, mutations represent an initial step toward dedifferentiation, in which tumor cells switch from a partially or terminally differentiated stage to a less differentiated stage that is mainly manifested by re-entry into the cell cycle, acquisition of a stem cell-like phenotype, and expression of stem cell markers. This phenomenon typically shows up as a change in the form, function, and pattern of gene and protein expression, and more specifically, in CSCs. This review would highlight the main epigenetic alterations, major signaling pathways and driver mutations in which CSCs, in tumors and specifically, in lung cancer, could be involved, acting as key elements in the differentiation/dedifferentiation process. This would highlight the main molecular mechanisms which need to be considered for more tailored therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Masciale
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapies, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Federico Banchelli
- Department of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Alma Mater Studiorum- University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Grisendi
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapies, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Anna Valeria Samarelli
- Laboratory of and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Raineri
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapies, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Tania Rossi
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Michele Zanoni
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Michela Cortesi
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Sara Bandini
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Paola Ulivi
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Franco Stella
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-DIMEC of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Massimo Dominici
- Laboratory of Cellular Therapies, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy; Division of Oncology, University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Aramini
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-DIMEC of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.
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Y KN, Arjunan A, Maigandan D, Dharmarajan A, Perumalsamy LR. Advances and challenges in therapeutic resistant biomarkers of neuroblastoma: A comprehensive review. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189222. [PMID: 39577750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 11/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/24/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance is one of the significant challenges in Neuroblastoma. Owing to its molecular diversity, the therapeutic resistance mechanisms of Neuroblastoma are highly complicated. The traditional chemo and radio therapeutics fail to provide adequate solutions to the treatment resistance, demanding in-depth research to improvise the existing prognostic and therapeutic regimens. To address this knowledge gap, several investigations are being employed, such as unravelling the molecular signalling mechanisms involved in drug resistance at genomics and proteomics levels, development of biomarkers for assessing the therapeutic success, development of novel drug targets for cancer stem cells, targeted immunotherapy and combination therapies. This review collates the ongoing research efforts to address the challenges faced in Neuroblastoma treatment resistance and uncovers the importance of transitioning biomarker discoveries into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithicaa Narayanaa Y
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India.
| | - Amrutha Arjunan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India.
| | - Devi Maigandan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India.
| | - Arun Dharmarajan
- Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Clinical Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India; Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102 Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Lakshmi R Perumalsamy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600116, India.
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Khan S, Alson D, Sun L, Maloney C, Sun D. Leveraging Neural Crest-Derived Tumors to Identify NF1 Cancer Stem Cell Signatures. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:3639. [PMID: 39518076 PMCID: PMC11545784 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16213639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2024] [Revised: 10/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/25/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder that predisposes individuals to develop benign and malignant tumors of the nerve sheath. Understanding the signatures of cancer stem cells (CSCs) for NF1-associated tumors may facilitate the early detection of tumor progression. Background: Neural crest cells, the cell of origin of NF1-associated tumors, can initiate multiple tumor types, including melanoma, neuroblastoma, and schwannoma. CSCs within these tumors have been reported; however, identifying and targeting CSC populations remains a challenge. Results: This study aims to leverage existing studies on neural crest-derived CSCs to explore markers pertinent to NF1 tumorigenesis. By focusing on the molecular and cellular dynamics within these tumors, we summarize CSC signatures in tumor maintenance, progression, and treatment resistance. Conclusion: A review of these signatures in the context of NF1 will provide insights into NF1 tumor biology and pave the way for developing targeted therapies and improving treatment outcomes for NF1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Khan
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Donia Alson
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Caroline Maloney
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Daochun Sun
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Pediatric, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Children Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Vercouillie N, Ren Z, Terras E, Lammens T. Long Non-Coding RNAs in Neuroblastoma: Pathogenesis, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5690. [PMID: 38891878 PMCID: PMC11171840 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Recent studies involving the application of advanced high-throughput "omics" techniques have revealed numerous genomic alterations, including aberrant coding-gene transcript levels and dysfunctional pathways, that drive the onset, growth, progression, and treatment resistance of neuroblastoma. Research conducted in the past decade has shown that long non-coding RNAs, once thought to be transcriptomic noise, play key roles in cancer development. With the recent and continuing increase in the amount of evidence for the underlying roles of long non-coding RNAs in neuroblastoma, the potential clinical implications of these RNAs cannot be ignored. In this review, we discuss their biological mechanisms of action in the context of the central driving mechanisms of neuroblastoma, focusing on potential contributions to the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of this disease. We also aim to provide a clear, integrated picture of future research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Vercouillie
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
| | - Zhiyao Ren
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eva Terras
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Lammens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Cappabianca L, Ruggieri M, Sebastiano M, Sbaffone M, Martelli I, Ruggeri P, Di Padova M, Farina AR, Mackay AR. Molecular Characterization and Inhibition of a Novel Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Protecting Role for Misfolded TrkAIII in Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5475. [PMID: 38791513 PMCID: PMC11122047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Pediatric neuroblastomas (NBs) are heterogeneous, aggressive, therapy-resistant embryonal tumors that originate from cells of neural crest origin committed to the sympathoadrenal progenitor cell lineage. Stress- and drug-resistance mechanisms drive post-therapeutic relapse and metastatic progression, the characterization and inhibition of which are major goals in improving therapeutic responses. Stress- and drug-resistance mechanisms in NBs include alternative TrkAIII splicing of the neurotrophin receptor tropomyosin-related kinase A (NTRK1/TrkA), which correlates with post-therapeutic relapse and advanced-stage metastatic disease. The TrkAIII receptor variant exerts oncogenic activity in NB models by mechanisms that include stress-induced mitochondrial importation and activation. In this study, we characterize novel targetable and non-targetable participants in this pro-survival mechanism in TrkAIII-expressing SH-SY5Y NB cells, using dithiothreitol (DTT) as an activator and a variety of inhibitors by regular and immunoprecipitation Western blotting of purified mitochondria and IncuCyte cytotoxicity assays. We report that stress-induced TrkAIII misfolding initiates this mechanism, resulting in Grp78, Ca2+-calmodulin, adenosine ribosylating factor (Arf) and Hsp90-regulated mitochondrial importation. TrkAIII imported into inner mitochondrial membranes is cleaved by Omi/high temperature requirement protein A2 (HtrA2) then activated by a mechanism dependent upon calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII), alpha serine/threonine kinase (Akt), mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter and reactive oxygen species (ROS), involving inhibitory mitochondrial protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) oxidation, resulting in phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) activation of mitochondrial Akt, which enhances stress resistance. This novel pro-survival function for misfolded TrkAIII mitigates the cytotoxicity of mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis disrupted during integrated stress responses, and is prevented by clinically approved Trk and Akt inhibitors and also by inhibitors of 78kDa glucose regulated protein (Grp78), heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), Ca2+-calmodulin and PI3K. This identifies Grp78, Ca2+-calmodulin, Hsp90, PI3K and Akt as novel targetable participants in this mechanism, in addition to TrkAIII, the inhibition of which has the potential to enhance the stress-induced elimination of TrkAIII-expressing NB cells, with the potential to improve therapeutic outcomes in NBs that exhibit TrkAIII expression and activation.
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Xia Y, Wang C, Li X, Gao M, Hogg HDJ, Tunthanathip T, Hulsen T, Tian X, Zhao Q. Development and validation of a novel stemness-related prognostic model for neuroblastoma using integrated machine learning and bioinformatics analyses. Transl Pediatr 2024; 13:91-109. [PMID: 38323183 PMCID: PMC10839279 DOI: 10.21037/tp-23-582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common solid tumor in children, with a dismal prognosis in high-risk cases. Despite advancements in NB treatment, the clinical need for precise prognostic models remains critical, particularly to address the heterogeneity of cancer stemness which plays a pivotal role in tumor aggressiveness and patient outcomes. By utilizing machine learning (ML) techniques, we aimed to explore the cancer stemness features in NB and identify stemness-related hub genes for future investigation and potential targeted therapy. Methods The public dataset GSE49710 was employed as the training set for acquire gene expression data and NB sample information, including age, stage, and MYCN amplification status and survival. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) was calculated and patients were grouped according to their mRNAsi value. Stemness-related hub genes were identified from the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to construct a gene signature. This was followed by evaluating the relationship between cancer stemness and the NB immune microenvironment, and the development of a predictive nomogram. We assessed the prognostic outcomes including overall survival (OS) and event-free survival, employing machine learning methods to measure predictive accuracy through concordance indices and validation in an independent cohort E-MTAB-8248. Results Based on mRNAsi, we categorized NB patients into two groups to explore the association between varying levels of stemness and their clinical outcomes. High mRNAsi was linked to the advanced International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage, amplified MYCN, and elder age. High mRNAsi patients had a significantly poorer prognosis than low mRNAsi cases. According to the multivariate Cox analysis, the mRNAsi was an independent risk factor of prognosis in NB patients. After least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, four key genes (ERCC6L, DUXAP10, NCAN, DIRAS3) most related to mRNAsi scores were discovered and a risk model was built. Our model demonstrated a significant prognostic capacity with hazard ratios (HR) ranging from 18.96 to 41.20, P values below 0.0001, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.918 in the training set, suggesting high predictive accuracy which was further confirmed by external verification. Individuals with a low four-gene signature score had a favorable outcome and better immune responses. Finally, a nomogram for clinical practice was constructed by integrating the four-gene signature and INSS stage. Conclusions Our findings confirm the influence of CSC features in NB prognosis. The newly developed NB stemness-related four-gene signature prognostic signature could facilitate the prognostic prediction, and the identified hub genes may serve as promising targets for individualized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuren Xia
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Cancer Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Chaoyu Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Cancer Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Mingyou Gao
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Henry David Jeffry Hogg
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Thara Tunthanathip
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Tim Hulsen
- Data Science & AI Engineering, Philips, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Xiangdong Tian
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Gil-Gas C, Sánchez-Díez M, Honrubia-Gómez P, Sánchez-Sánchez JL, Alvarez-Simón CB, Sabater S, Sánchez-Sánchez F, Ramírez-Castillejo C. Self-Renewal Inhibition in Breast Cancer Stem Cells: Moonlight Role of PEDF in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5422. [PMID: 38001682 PMCID: PMC10670784 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among females in developed countries. Although the implementation of screening tests and the development of new therapies have increased the probability of remission, relapse rates remain high. Numerous studies have indicated the connection between cancer-initiating cells and slow cellular cycle cells, identified by their capacity to retain long labeling (LT+). In this study, we perform new assays showing how stem cell self-renewal modulating proteins, such as PEDF, can modify the properties, percentage of biomarker-expressing cells, and carcinogenicity of cancer stem cells. The PEDF signaling pathway could be a useful tool for controlling cancer stem cells' self-renewal and therefore control patient relapse, as PEDF enhances resistance in breast cancer patient cells' in vitro culture. We have designed a peptide consisting of the C-terminal part of this protein, which acts by blocking endogenous PEDF in cell culture assays. We demonstrate that it is possible to interfere with the self-renewal capacity of cancer stem cells, induce anoikis in vivo, and reduce resistance against docetaxel treatment in cancer patient cells in in vitro culture. We have also demonstrated that this modified PEDF protein produces a significant decrease in the percentage of expressed cancer stem cell markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Gil-Gas
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain; (C.G.-G.); (P.H.-G.)
| | - Marta Sánchez-Díez
- HST Group, Department Biotechnology-BV, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Paloma Honrubia-Gómez
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain; (C.G.-G.); (P.H.-G.)
| | - Jose Luis Sánchez-Sánchez
- Oncology Unit, Hospital General de Almansa, 02640 Albacete, Spain;
- Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Carmen B. Alvarez-Simón
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain; (C.G.-G.); (P.H.-G.)
- Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Sebastia Sabater
- Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Francisco Sánchez-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Instituto de Investigaciones en Discapacidades Neurológicas (IDINE), University of Castilla La-Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Carmen Ramírez-Castillejo
- HST Group, Department Biotechnology-BV, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Oncology Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Gomez RL, Ibragimova S, Ramachandran R, Philpott A, Ali FR. Tumoral heterogeneity in neuroblastoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188805. [PMID: 36162542 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a solid, neuroendocrine tumor with divergent clinical behavior ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. The diverse clinical presentations of neuroblastoma are directly linked to the high intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity it presents. This heterogeneity is strongly associated with therapeutic resistance and continuous relapses, often leading to fatal outcomes. The development of successful risk assessment and tailored treatment strategies lies in evaluating the extent of heterogeneity via the accurate genetic and epigenetic profiling of distinct cell subpopulations present in the tumor. Recent studies have focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive tumoral heterogeneity in pursuing better therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. This review describes the cellular, genetic, and epigenetic aspects of neuroblastoma heterogeneity. In addition, we summarize the recent findings on three crucial factors that can lead to heterogeneity in solid tumors: the inherent diversity of the progenitor cells, the presence of cancer stem cells, and the influence of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshna Lawrence Gomez
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shakhzada Ibragimova
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Revathy Ramachandran
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anna Philpott
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Center, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Fahad R Ali
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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