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Neurotrophin signaling in medulloblastoma

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Amanda Thomaz
  • Mariane Jaeger
  • Algemir L. Brunetto
  • André T. Brunetto
  • Lauro Gregianin
  • Caroline Brunetto de Farias
  • Vijay Ramaswamy
  • Carolina Nör
  • Michael D. Taylor
  • Rafael Roesler
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Article number2542
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>7/09/2020
<mark>Journal</mark>Cancers
Issue number9
Volume12
Number of pages22
Pages (from-to)1-22
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Neurotrophins are a family of secreted proteins that act by binding to tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) or p75NTR receptors to regulate nervous system development and plasticity. Increasing evidence indicates that neurotrophins and their receptors in cancer cells play a role in tumor growth and resistance to treatment. In this review, we summarize evidence indicating that neurotrophin signaling influences medulloblastoma (MB), the most common type of malignant brain cancer afflicting children. We discuss the potential of neurotrophin receptors as new therapeutic targets for the treatment of MB. Overall, activation of TrkA and TrkC types of receptors seem to promote cell death, whereas TrkB might stimulate MB growth, and TrkB inhibition displays antitumor effects. Importantly, we show analyses of the gene expression profile of neurotrophins and their receptors in MB primary tumors, which indicate, among other findings, that higher levels of NTRK1 or NTRK2 are associated with reduced overall survival (OS) of patients with SHH MB tumors.