Characterization of Persister Cells Provides Insights into Mechanisms of Therapy Resistance in Neuroblastoma

Summary:The study by Grossmann and colleagues uses single-nucleus RNA sequencing in a cohort of matched high-risk neuroblastoma primary tumor samples, obtained from the same patient at diagnosis and definitive surgery, to identify persister cells that survive induction chemotherapy. These persister cells utilize mechanisms of chemoresistance that are both tumor-intrinsic and tumor-extrinsic, are highly dependent on the original genetic profile of the tumor, and represent novel, patient-specific targets to precisely inhibit chemoresistance and disease recurrence.See related article by Grossmann et.al., p. 2387