Influence of glycosylation on the development and treatment of neuroblastoma.

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is a solid malignancy observed in pediatric patients that develops when neuroblasts are unable to mature, leading to unregulated proliferation and tumor formation. Neuroblastoma commonly manifests in the adrenal gland, but may also form in the neck, chest, or spinal cord. Neuroblastoma is heterogeneous and aggressive in nature, leading to high treatment failure, morbidity, and mortality rates. Lewis family glycans, as part of the Core 2 O- glycans, play a key role in neuroblastoma malignant cell behavior in MYCN-amplified cell lines. Current treatment approaches for neuroblastoma include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. These approaches are faced with physiological and cellular barriers, including the influence of glycosylation in cancer diseases. Studies have confirmed that the inhibition of mucin glycosylation has improved effectiveness of cytotoxic drug agents employed against solid malignancies such as with pancreatic cancer, yet little research is available regarding the influence of glycosylated proteins for other diseases. This article reviews the effect of glycosylation on the development and treatment of neuroblastoma.