Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial tumor of childhood. This tumor is associated with alterations in apoptosis and is affected by various growth factors and cytokines. In this short review we will discuss recent findings in our laboratory where we have been studying a cell culture model of neuroblastoma.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
EvansA, GersonJ, SchnauferL. Spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr1976;44:49–54.
2.
HaasD, AblinAR, MillerC, . Complete pathologic maturation and regression of Stage IVS neuroblastoma without treatment. Cancer1988;62:818–25.
3.
WyllieAH, KerrJFR, CurrieAR. Cell death: The significance of apoptosis. Int Rev Cytol1980;68:251–306.
4.
OueT, FukuzawaM, KusafukaT, . In situ detection of DNA fragmentation and expression of bcl-2 in human neuroblastoma: Relation to apoptosis and spontaneous regression. J Pediatr Surg1996;31:251–7.
5.
NakagawaraA, NakamuraY, IkedaH, . High levels of expression and nuclear localization of interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE) and CPP32 in favorable human neuroblastomas. Cancer Res1997;57:4578–84.
6.
CastleVP, HeidelbergerKP, BrombergJ, . Expression of the apoptosis-suppressing protein blc-2, in neuroblastoma is associated with unfavorable histology and N-myc amplification. Am J Pathol1993;143:1543–50.
7.
IkedaH, HiratoJ, AkamiM, . Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression and apoptosis in neuroblastoma. J Pediatr Surg1995;30: 805–8.
8.
BatesRC, BuretA, van HeldenDF, . Apoptosis induced by inhibition of intercellular contact. J Cell Biol1994;125:403–15.
9.
ChenMK, StrandeLF, KainM, . Induction of apoptosis in a neuroblastoma and hepatocyte coculture model. J Surg Res1998;78:123–30.
10.
ChenMK, StrandeLF, BeierleEA, . Fas-mediated induction of hepatocyte apoptosis in a neuroblastoma and hepatocyte coculture model. J Surg Res1999;84:82–7.
11.
SentmanCL, ShutterJR, HockenberryD, . Bcl-2 inhibits multiple forms of apoptosis but not negative selection in thymocytes. Cell1991;67:879–88.
12.
NunezG, SetoM, SeremetisS, . Growth and tumor-promoting effects of deregulated Bcl-2 in human B-lymphoblastoid cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA1989;86:4589–93.
13.
BeierleEA, StrandeLF, GeldzilerBS, . Neuroblastoma and hepatocyte coculture conditioned media alter apoptosis. J Surg Res2000;90:113–8.
14.
BeierleEA, StrandeLF, BergerAC, . VEGF is upregulated in a neuroblastoma and hepatocyte coculture model. J Surg Res2001;97:34–40.
15.
BrownLF, BerseB, JakcmanRW, . Expression of vascular permeability factor (vascular endothelial growth factor) and its receptors in adenocarcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer Res1993;53:4727–35.
16.
MeisterB, GrunebachF, BautzF, . Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors in human neuroblastoma. Eur J Cancer1999;35:445–9.
17.
MeitarD, CrawfordSE, RademakerAW, . Tumor angiogenesis correlates with metastatic disease, N-myc amplification, and poor outcome in human neuroblastoma. J Clin Oncol1996; 14:405–14.
18.
KarsanA, YeeE, PoirierGG, . Fibroblast growth factor-2 inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis by Bcl-2-dependent and independent mechanisms. Am J Pathol1997;151:1775–84.
19.
BeierleEA, StrandeLF, ChenMK. VEGF upregulates bcl-2 expression and is associated with decreased apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells. J Pediatr Surg2002;37:467–71.
