Neuroblastoma and its Target Therapies: A Medicinal Chemistry Review

Abstract

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood malignant tumour belonging to a group of embryonic tumours originating from progenitor cells of the sympathoadrenal lineage. The heterogeneity of NB is reflected in the survival rates of those with low and intermediate risk diseases who have survival rates ranging from 85 to 90 %. However, for those identified with high‐risk Stage 4 NB, the treatment options are much more limited. For this group, current treatment consists of immunotherapy (monoclonal antibodies) in combination with anti‐cancer drugs and has a 40 to 50 % survival rate. The purpose of this review is to summarise NB research from a medicinal chemistry perspective and to highlight advances in targeted drug therapy in the field. The review examines the medicinal chemistry of a number of drugs tested in research, some of which are currently under clinical trial. It concludes by proposing that future medicinal chemistry research into NB should consider other possible target therapies and adopt a multi‐target drug approach rather than a one‐drug‐one‐target approach for improved efficacy and less drug‐drug interaction for the treatment of NB Stage 4 (NBS4) patients.

Molecular pathway of anticancer effect of next-generation HSP90 inhibitors XL-888 and Debio0932 in neuroblastoma cell line

“…Neuroblastoma is a pediatric nervous system tumor originating from neural crest elements [ 1 ]. Neuroblastoma is the third most common solid tumor of infancy and childhood and is responsible for 15% of all pediatric cancer deaths worldwide [ 2 ]. When diagnosed with neuroblastoma, there is an aggressive scenario in which approximately 50% of patients have metastases to the bone, bone marrow and lymph nodes.…”