Neuroblastoma Heterogeneity, Plasticity, and Emerging Therapies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The evolving information of the initiation, tumor cell heterogeneity, and plasticity of childhood neuroblastoma has opened up new perspectives for developing therapies based on detailed knowledge of the disease. RECENT FINDINGS: The cellular origin of neuroblastoma has begun to unravel and there have been several reports on tumor cell heterogeneity based on transcriptional core regulatory circuitries that have given us important information on the biology of neuroblastoma as a developmental disease. This together with new insight of the tumor microenvironment which acts as a support for neuroblastoma growth has given us the prospect for designing better treatment approaches for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Here, we discuss these new discoveries and highlight some emerging therapeutic options. SUMMARY: Neuroblastoma is a disease with multiple facets. Detailed biological and molecular knowledge on neuroblastoma initiation, heterogeneity, and the communications between cells in the tumor microenvironment holds promise for better therapies.