Clinical and biological factors have been shown in previous studies to have prognostic value in neuroblastoma. Current therapeutic studies for neuroblastoma patients are tailored according to patient risk. In the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), risk-group assignment is currently based on the International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage, age, MYCN copy number, tumor cell ploidy, and Shimada tumor histopathology. These biological features will be used for risk assignment and determination of therapy.
However, additional biologic factors have also been reported to be predictive of outcome in children with neuroblastoma. In this study, efforts will be made to analyze chromosome abnormalities such as 1p, 11q, 17q, TRK-A gene expression, telomerase (TRAP assay), and expression of the RNA component of telomerase (hTR). These latter features will not be used for risk assignment but their significance in regards to response to therapy and outcome will be analyzed in a prospective fashion. In addition, a reference bank containing genetically characterized frozen tumor tissue, tumor DNA and RNA, paired normal DNA and tumor cell lines for future research studies will be maintained.
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Determine future therapies
| Estimated Enrollment: |
72 |
| Study Start Date: |
May 2001 |
Clinical and biological factors have been shown in previous studies to have prognostic value in neuroblastoma. Current therapeutic studies for neuroblastoma patients are tailored according to patient risk. In the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), risk-group assignment is currently based on the International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage, age, MYCN copy number, tumor cell ploidy, and Shimada tumor histopathology. These biological features will be used for risk assignment and determination of therapy.
However, additional biologic factors have also been reported to be predictive of outcome in children with neuroblastoma. In this study, efforts will be made to analyze chromosome abnormalities such as 1p, 11q, 17q, TRK-A gene expression, telomerase (TRAP assay), and expression of the RNA component of telomerase (hTR). These latter features will not be used for risk assignment but their significance in regards to response to therapy and outcome will be analyzed in a prospective fashion. In addition, a reference bank containing genetically characterized frozen tumor tissue, tumor DNA and RNA, paired normal DNA and tumor cell lines for future research studies will be maintained.
Purpose
