Does select Bcl-2 antagonism restore chemotherapy sensitivity in high-risk neuroblastoma?
HR NB patients are often thrombocytopenic at relapse, raising concerns for therapies like ABT-263 despite its HR NB tumor targeting potential. Our data confirms that Bcl-2 selective inhibitors like ABT-199 are equally potent in HR NB in vitro and in vivo and given their lack of platelet toxicity, should be translated into the clinic for HR NB.
The EGF SNP genotype might be associated with a risk for the development of HCC in Japanese patients but not with prognosis. Of note, the association is significantly stronger in patients with hepatitis C, which is the main risk factor for HCC in Japan.