Researchers from the University of Sheffield have created a stem cell model designed to investigate the origins of neuroblastoma, a cancer primarily affecting babies and young children.
Childhood cancer is often diagnosed and detected late, leaving researchers with very little idea of the conditions that led to tumour initiation, which occurs very early during fetal development. In order to understand tumour initiation, models which recreate the conditions that lead to the appearance of a tumour are vital.
These cells carried genetic changes often seen in aggressive neuroblastoma tumours. Using genomics analysis and advanced imaging techniques, the researchers found that the altered cells started behaving like cancer cells and looked very similar to the neuroblastoma cells found in sick children. "This is very important as survival rates for children with aggressive neuroblastoma are poor and most survivors suffer from side effects linked to the harsh treatments currently used, which include potential hearing, fertility and lung problems."