Abstract IA08: MYC and mitochondrial metabolism in childhood neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma, which arises from the sympathetic nervous system is one of the most aggressive solid tumors of early childhood. Amplification of the MYCN oncogene has been found in around 30% of neuroblastoma patients and it is associated with rapid tumor progression and poor prognosis. New treatment options are urgently needed for this group of patients. As metabolic adaptations are crucial for cancer cell survival during tumor progression, identifying metabolic discrepancies of aggressive tumors may be central in order to find new treatment strategies. We have recently highlighted the importance MYC driven mitochondrial metabolism in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. Our findings suggest that a small chemical molecule, 10058-F4, previously identified as a c-MYC inhibitor also targets the MYCN/MAX complex resulting in apoptosis and neuronal differentiation in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells. Importantly, we found that inhibition of MYCN results in changes in neuroblastoma cell metabolism including mitochondrial dysfunction leading to accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets. Taken together, our results highlight that MYCN regulates important metabolic pathways in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma, which may be the basis for development future therapies for this patient group.Citation Format: Marie Arsenian-Henriksson. MYC and mitochondrial metabolism in childhood neuroblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2...
Source: Molecular Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Myc and Metabolism - Metabolomics: Oral Presentations - Invited Abstracts Source Type: research