Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells
Published on: August 25, 2021
Congenital stage 1 neuroblastoma evolved into stage 4s
Amalia Schiavetti1, Micaela Foco, Annapaola Ingrosso
1Departments of Pediatrics, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy. Amaliasc@tiscali.it
Abstract:
A newborn with a prenatally detected adrenal mass underwent complete resection of a stage 1 favorable histology neuroblastoma (NB) without MYC-N amplification. Two months later, the infant presented with a local recurrence and multiple hepatic metastases. Close follow-up without therapy was adopted for stage 4s NB. Enlarging tumor lesions were seen until the child was 8 months old, followed by later decrease in size. At 36 months of follow-up, the child is alive and disease-free. We describe this case of NB and its abnormally short evolution from stage 1 to stage 4s, despite initial surgery. Its spontaneous regression may help us understand the natural history of congenital NB.
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
