An overview of neuroblastoma cell lineage phenotypes and <i>in vitro</i> models
Sheron Campos Cogo, Thatyanne Gradowski Farias da Costa do Nascimento, Fernanda de Almeida Brehm Pinhatti, Nilton de França, Bruna Santos Rodrigues, Luciane R. Cavalli, Selene Elífio-Esposito
Abstract
This review was conducted to present the main neuroblastoma (NB) clinical characteristics and the most common genetic alterations present in these pediatric tumors, highlighting their impact in tumor cell aggressiveness behavior, including metastatic development and treatment resistance, and patients’ prognosis. The distinct three NB cell lineage phenotypes, S-type, N-type, and I-type, which are characterized by unique cell surface markers and gene expression patterns, are also reviewed. Finally, an overview of the most used NB cell lines currently available for in vitro studies and their unique cellular and molecular characteristics, which should be taken into account for the selection of the most appropriate model for NB pre-clinical studies, is presented. These valuable models can be complemented by the generation of NB reprogrammed tumor cells or organoids, derived directly from patients’ tumor specimens, in the direction toward personalized medicine.