Cancer News, Treatment and Research

An extensive genomic study of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma reinforces the challenges in treating the most aggressive forms of this disease. Contrary to expectations, the scientists found relatively few recurrent gene mutations—mutations that would suggest new targets for neuroblastoma treatment. Instead, say the researchers, they have now refocused on how neuroblastoma tumors evolve in response to medicine and other factors. The study included participants from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (home of the Abramson Cancer Center), the Broad Institute, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the University of British Columbia.