Hormonal activity may predict aggressive behavior in neuroblastoma

Pediatric and Developmental Pathology : the Official Journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society
Eduardo Zambrano, Miguel Reyes-Múgica

Abstract

Overproduction of catecholamines (dopamine [DA], norepinephrine [NE]) and their metabolites (homovanillic [HVA] and vanillylmandelic [VMA] acids) characterizes neuroblastoma (NB). In previous studies, increased urinary DA/NE, and DA/VMA ratios have been associated with poor prognosis, whereas low DA/NE ratios have been associated with longer disease-free survival. Higher urinary VMA, HVA, and NE levels have been found in association with low MYCN amplification, in contrast to cases with high MYCN amplification in which normal levels have been found. It is then believed that an "immature" catecholamine pattern indicates poor prognosis. We correlated urinary DA, NE, VMA, and HVA levels with age, clinical tumor stage, histological features (favorable [FH]/unfavorable [UH]) and MYCN status of 33 patients with NB. DA/VMA and DA/HVA ratios were also calculated. Wilcoxon rank sum and chi-squared tests were performed to determine statistical significance. Eighty-eight percent (15/17) of stage 3-4 cases had DA levels >2 times the upper limit of normal, but only 8% (1/12) of stage 1-2 cases had DA levels twice the upper limit of normal. In 61% (11/18) of stage 3-4 cases, the VMA level was >10 times the upper limit of normal, in contrast ...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 22, 2008·Pediatric Research·Gloria J GreenPaul B Pencharz
Aug 16, 2017·European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·Julian M M RogaschImke Schatka
Jun 29, 2010·Pediatric Hematology and Oncology·G Burca AydinMunevver Buyukpamukcu
Sep 21, 2013·Nuklearmedizin. Nuclear Medicine·R L F van der PalenL F de Geus-Oei
May 30, 2006·Pediatric Blood & Cancer·Volker StrengerChristian Urban
Jan 28, 2021·The Science of the Total Environment·Aaron J PandopulosCobus Gerber

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