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Updated: Nov 7, 2025
Zebrafish Model of Neuroblastoma Metastasis
Published on: March 14, 2021
Combined Effects of Myeloid Cells in the Neuroblastoma Tumor Microenvironment
Jennifer Frosch1, Ilia Leontari1, John Anderson1
1UCL Institute of Child Health, Developmental Biology and Cancer Section, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
Abstract:
Despite multimodal treatment, survival chances for high-risk neuroblastoma patients remain poor. Immunotherapeutic approaches focusing on the activation and/or modification of host immunity for eliminating tumor cells, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, are currently in development, however clinical trials have failed to reproduce the preclinical results. The tumor microenvironment is emerging as a major contributor to immune suppression and tumor evasion in solid cancers and thus has to be overcome for therapies relying on a functional immune response. Among the cellular components of the neuroblastoma tumor microenvironment, suppressive myeloid cells have been described as key players in inhibition of antitumor immune responses and have been shown to positively correlate with more aggressive disease, resistance to treatments, and overall poor prognosis. This review article summarizes how neuroblastoma-driven inflammation induces suppressive myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment and how they in turn sustain the tumor niche through suppressor functions, such as nutrient depletion and generation of oxidative stress. Numerous preclinical studies have suggested a range of drug and cellular therapy approaches to overcome myeloid-derived suppression in neuroblastoma that warrant evaluation in future clinical studies.
Insights
High-risk neuroblastoma remains difficult to treat. Suppressive myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment hinder immune responses, but new therapies targeting these cells show promise for improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- High-risk neuroblastoma presents poor survival rates despite multimodal treatments.
- Current immunotherapies, like CAR T cells, face challenges in clinical settings due to the tumor microenvironment.
- The tumor microenvironment significantly contributes to immune suppression and tumor evasion in solid cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of neuroblastoma-driven inflammation in inducing suppressive myeloid cells.
- To summarize how these myeloid cells sustain the tumor niche via suppressor functions.
- To highlight therapeutic strategies targeting myeloid-derived suppression in neuroblastoma.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies on neuroblastoma and the tumor microenvironment.
- Analysis of the mechanisms by which myeloid cells suppress antitumor immunity.
- Synthesis of data on therapeutic approaches to overcome myeloid-derived suppression.
Main Results:
- Neuroblastoma-driven inflammation induces suppressive myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment.
- These myeloid cells inhibit antitumor immune responses and correlate with poor prognosis.
- Suppressor functions include nutrient depletion and generation of oxidative stress, sustaining the tumor niche.
Conclusions:
- Suppressing myeloid cells is crucial for effective immunotherapy in neuroblastoma.
- Numerous preclinical strategies exist to overcome myeloid-derived suppression.
- Future clinical studies should evaluate these promising therapeutic approaches.
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