NEWS

New paper published on Neuro Oncology

June 2022 [doi:10.1093/neuonc/noab241]

One of the major challenges facing cancer biologists is the need to develop model systems that optimally recapitulate human disease. To date, studies of neural crest (NC) development and biology have been done almost exclusively using model organisms. Given the fact that childhood cancers often arise as a result of disruptions to embryonic development, hESC represent an invaluable resource for studies of pediatric tumorigenesis. In this study, we used a hESC-derived NC model to investigate the cellular and molecular origin of neuroblastoma. By using this platform, we unveil that MYCN shapes CD55 into a novel cancer stem cell regulator which represents a prognostic marker and therapeutic target of neuroblastoma.

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https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab241

An editorial published by Prof. William Weiss cited our study, suggesting that CD55 can be used as a potential immunotherapeutic target for MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.