Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
09:33
Genetic Profiling and Genome-Scale Dropout Screening to Identify Therapeutic Targets in Mouse Models of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor
Published on: August 25, 2023
Chromatin remodeling-driven stratification and a five-gene RiskScore define proliferative aggressiveness and
Aiguo Zhu1,2, Xin Li1,2, Zhengchao Jin1,2
1Tianjin Cancer Hospital Airport Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.
Translational Cancer Research
|May 25, 2026
Summary
Chromatin remodeling defines neuroblastoma subtypes and a five-gene risk score predicts patient survival. This score links aggressive tumor biology to specific pathways and potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Neuroblastoma exhibits clinical heterogeneity.
- Epigenetic dysregulation, particularly chromatin remodeling, influences aggressive tumor states, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Define neuroblastoma subtypes associated with chromatin remodeling.
- Develop a prognostic risk score based on subtype-associated transcriptional changes.
- Validate the score externally and characterize its biological underpinnings.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed a chromatin remodeling gene set in RNA sequencing cohorts.
- Used consensus clustering to define molecular subtypes.
- Employed LASSO Cox regression and multivariable Cox refinement to identify a five-gene signature for the RiskScore.
- Validated the RiskScore using Kaplan-Meier analysis and ROC curves in independent cohorts.
Main Results:
- Chromatin remodeling-based clustering identified prognostically distinct neuroblastoma subtypes.
- The five-gene RiskScore robustly predicted overall survival in development and validation cohorts.
- High-RiskScore tumors showed enhanced cell-cycle and DNA repair programs, indicating an aggressive phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Chromatin remodeling programs reproducibly define neuroblastoma subtypes.
- A stable, externally validated five-gene prognostic RiskScore links aggressive biology to mechanistic pathways.
- The findings support novel therapeutic hypotheses for neuroblastoma.
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