Disrupting Neuroblastoma Tumor-Initiating Cells

University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

Neuroblastoma is a common and deadly childhood cancer with an overall 5-year survival of less than 50% for high-risk tumors. Tumor initiating cells may drive therapeutic resistance and relapse, which accounts for the majority of deaths in neuroblastoma. We have recently discovered a novel regulatory pathway involved in the cancerous properties of neuroblastoma tumor-initiating cells. Our preliminary studies have further confirmed the therapeutic potential of using drugs to inhibit this pathway’s role in neuroblastoma cancer cells. In this project, we will determine the role of this pathway in the development of neuroblastoma and devise an approach to inhibit its cancerous activity with the long-term goal of improving neuroblastoma treatments for children diagnosed with this terrible disease.