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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Neuroblastoma | Research article

High Oct4 expression: implications in the pathogenesis of neuroblastic tumours

Authors: Ezequiel Monferrer, Rebeca Burgos-Panadero, Maite Blanquer-Maceiras, Adela Cañete, Samuel Navarro, Rosa Noguera

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Neuroblastic tumours (NBTs) are paediatric solid tumours derived from embryonic neural crest cells which harbour their own cancer stem cells (CSC). There is evidence indicating that CSC may be responsible for tumour progression, chemotherapy resistance and recurrence in NBTs. Oct4 is a transcription factor which plays a key role in mammal embryonic development and stem cell fate regulation. The aim of the study is to elucidate the clinical significance of Oct4 in NBTs.

Methods

We studied Oct4 expression in 563 primary NBTs using digital image quantification. Chi-square test was applied to analyse the correlation between histopathology and the Oct4+ cell percentage. Survival analysis was carried out with Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. Additionally, a multivariate Cox regression analysis with the stepwise backwards (Wald) method was undertaken to calculate the impact of Oct4 expression level on survival.

Results

We found that tumours with a high proportion of cells expressing Oct4 correlated statistically with undifferentiated and poorly differentiated neuroblastoma / nodular ganglioneuroblastoma, and that Oct4 expression was not present in ganglioneuroma (p < 0.05). Statistical analysis also indicated a relationship between high Oct4 expression levels, high-risk patients according to the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group pre-treatment classification parameters, larger blood vessels and low survival rates.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the Oct4 gene may regulate NBT pathogenic differentiation pathways, and should thus be considered as a target for knockdown when developing novel therapies for high-risk NBT patients.
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Metadata
Title
High Oct4 expression: implications in the pathogenesis of neuroblastic tumours
Authors
Ezequiel Monferrer
Rebeca Burgos-Panadero
Maite Blanquer-Maceiras
Adela Cañete
Samuel Navarro
Rosa Noguera
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-5219-3

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