title: Recent biologic and genetic advances in neuroblastoma: Implications for diagnostic, risk stratification, and treatment strategies.
abstract: Neuroblastoma is an embryonic cancer of neural crest cell lineage, accounting for up to 10% of all pediatric cancer. The clinical course is heterogeneous ranging from spontaneous regression in neonates to life-threatening metastatic disease in older children. Much of this clinical variance is thought to result from distinct pathologic characteristics that predict patient outcomes. Consequently, many research efforts have been focused on identifying the underlying biologic and genetic features of neuroblastoma tumors in order to more clearly define prognostic subgroups for treatment stratification. Recent technological advances have placed emphasis on the integration of genetic alterations and predictive biologic variables into targeted treatment approaches to improve patient survival outcomes. This review will focus on these recent advances and the implications they have on the diagnostic, staging, and treatment approaches in modern neuroblastoma clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Electronic address: eanewman@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Erika A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Jed G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Nuchtern
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: Immunotherapy; MIBG; MYCN; Neuroblastic tumors; Neuroblastoma; Risk stratification