Neuroblastoma Associated Genes Are Enriched in Trunk Neural Crest

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is the most common malignancy in infants less than 1 year. Patients can, in rare cases, be born with their tumor, suggesting that priming and/or initiating events occur already during embryogenesis and fetal development [1]. Neuroblastomas are found along sympathetic ganglia with the abdominal region and adrenal glands being the most common sites. Previous studies comparing spatial distribution of common neuroblastoma cell markers with that in healthy human embryos and fetuses have demonstrated that neuroblastoma cells share an expression profile with neural crest-derived sympathoadrenal progenitorand sympathetic neuronal cells [2-5].