臨床神経学および脳神経外科ジャーナル

Estimates of the worldwide incidence and mortality from 27 major cancers and for all cancers combined for 2012 are now available in the GLOBOCAN series of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Neuroblastoma is a highly heterogeneous tumor accounting for 15% of all pediatric cancer deaths. Neuroblastoma is an embryonal malignancy pediatric tumor that from sympathetic neural crest cells and showing heterogeneous biological, morphological, genetic and clinical behaviour, ranging from fatal progression to differentiation into benign ganglioneuroma. The correct stratification of neuroblastoma patients within risk groups (low, intermediate, high and ultra-high) is critical for the adequate treatment of the patients. Neuroblastoma remains a significant challenge as high-risk. Patients are treated with intensive multimodal therapies but cure rates remain suboptimal. Even targeted chemotherapies against solid cancers show a moderate success increasing the need to novel targeting strategies. To address this problem we review the effect of protein on neuroblastoma. PEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), a novel nuclear protein, is involved in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. However, the precise mechanism of action of PCNP in the process of tumor growth has not yet been fully elucidated. PCNP successfully mediates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human neuroblastoma cells through mitogen-activated protein kinase and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways, implying that PCNP is a therapeutic target for patients with neuroblastoma.