Hypoxia promotes apoptosis of human neuroblastoma cell lines with enhanced N-myc expression
J Rössler1, M Schwab, W Havers
1Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Endocrinology, Children's University Hospital, University of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
Abstract:
We have examined the effect of hypoxia and nutrient depletion on the growth of human neuroblastoma cells with normal or enhanced expression of the N-myc oncogene. The combination of both conditions reduced the growth of neuroblastoma cells with normal N-myc expression. However, this effect was much more pronounced in neuroblastoma cells with enhanced N-myc expression and eventually resulted in apoptosis, presumably by the up-regulation of CD95. Our data suggest that therapeutic induction of tumor hypoxia and nutrient depletion (for example, by anti-angiogenesis) could help to improve the outcome of patients with neuroblastomas carrying the prognostically unfavourable N-myc amplification.
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