Neuroblastoma as a neurobiological disease

• Published in: Journal of neuro-oncology Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 159 - 166
• Main Author: SCHOR, N. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Development - physiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Neuroblastoma - complications; Neuroblastoma - etiology; Neuroblastoma - physiopathology; Neuroblastoma - therapy; Neurology; Prognosis; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Human; Nervous system diseases; Dopamine receptor; Etiopathogenesis; Malignant tumor; Review; Neuroblastoma; Autonomic neuropathy; Neural crest; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0167-594X; 1573-7373
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006171406740

While neuroscientists are often involved in the assessment and care of patients with central nervous system tumors, they are only rarely involved in the case of peripheral nervous system neoplasia. Neuroblastoma is a childhood tumor of the primitive sympathetic nervous system. It is at once one of the most common and one of the most deadly tumors of childhood. The prognosis for children with this tumor has not changed in the past two decades. Clearly, a fresh approach to neuroblastoma is needed. The neuroscientist has much to add to our understanding and treatment of neuroblastoma and its sequelae. Conversely, neuroblastoma has much to teach us regarding the normal development of the neural crest and the aberrant loss of neurons in this lineage. A neuroscientist's approach to neuroblastoma, its biology and clinical features, is presented herein.