Genomic characterization of high-risk neuroblastoma

Olena Morozova, Genome Sciences Center, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Location: Engineering 2, Room 599
Hosted By David Haussler

Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NBL) is an enigmatic pediatric tumor of the sympathetic nervous system that is lethal in most children diagnosed over 18 months of age with metastatic disease. NBL is thought to originate from a differentiation arrest of the neural crest, a vertebrate-specific cell lineage with one of the most diverse developmental potentials. While several genes, including ALK and MYCN, have been linked to the pathogenesis of NBL, the full spectrum of molecular aberrations associated with the disease is unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify novel loci implicated in NBL by characterizing the genomes and transcriptomes of NBL cells using new sequencing technologies. Two key results have emerged from this analysis including the putative role of the BRCA1/BARD1 pathway in the development of NBL, and the heterogeneity of the genetic landscape of primary NBL tumors. Potential translational avenues for these discoveries are the exploration of AURKB and MAPK inhibitors as treatment agents for NBL.