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Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Analytical Determination of Mitochondrial Function of Excised Solid Tumor Homogenates
Published on: August 6, 2021
Comparison among Neuroblastoma Stages Suggests the Involvement of Mitochondria in Tumor Progression
Stefano Cagnin1,2, Tomas Knedlik1, Caterina Vianello1
1Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padua, Italy.
Abstract:
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial tumor of early childhood and accounts for 15% of all pediatric cancer mortalities. However, the precise pathways and genes underlying its progression are unknown. Therefore, we performed a differential gene expression analysis of neuroblastoma stage 1 and stage 4 + 4S to discover biological processes associated with NB progression. From this preliminary analysis, we found that NB samples (stage 4 + 4S) are characterized by altered expression of some proteins involved in mitochondria function and mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCS). Although further analyses remain necessary, this review may provide new hints to better understand NB molecular etiopathogenesis, by suggesting that MERCS alterations could be involved in the progression of NB.
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