AUTHOR=Otte Jörg , Dyberg Cecilia , Pepich Adena , Johnsen John Inge 

TITLE=MYCN Function in Neuroblastoma Development

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.624079

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2020.624079

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p>Dysregulated expression of the transcription factor MYCN is frequently detected in nervous system tumors such as childhood neuroblastoma. Here, gene amplification of <italic>MYCN</italic> is a single oncogenic driver inducing neoplastic transformation in neural crest-derived cells. This abnormal <italic>MYCN</italic> expression is one of the strongest predictors of poor prognosis. It is present at diagnosis and is never acquired during later tumorigenesis of <italic>MYCN</italic> non-amplified neuroblastoma. This suggests that increased <italic>MYCN</italic> expression is an early event in these cancers leading to a peculiar dysregulation of cells that results in embryonal or cancer stem-like qualities, such as increased self-renewal, apoptotic resistance, and metabolic flexibility.</p>