NGFN-PLUS

Identification of human neuroblastoma initiating cells

Coordinator:    Dr.Hedwig Deubzer
Institution: DKFZ Heidelberg
Homepage: www.dkfz.de/de/PaedOnko/
The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis suggests that rare multipotent cells with indefinite potential for self-renewal drive the onset and growth of tumors. The partly limited efficacy of currently used cancer therapeutics may be attributable to this cell fraction. Although the existence of CSCs in leukemia and solid tumors including both breast and brain cancers is established, CSCs in neuroblastoma (NB) have not yet been clearly identified.
Our studies show that primary NB-derived cells have the property to grow as neurosphere-like clusters under conditions supporting neural stem cell expansion, express neural stem cell markers and can be propagated for prolonged times in culture. The number of neurospheres arising varies from tumor to tumor reflecting the biologic heterogeneity of NB and correlating with its diverse clinical behaviors.
This project aims at the further isolation, purification and functional characterization of putative CSCs in NB. It will provide a “CSC-bank” to all members of the network and thereby standardise all future work that focuses on CSCs for the development of more effective NB therapies.


Additional relevant Internet links:
German Research Association for Neuroblastoma Targeted Therapies (GRANT)
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