Neuroblastoma is a cancer that is found in the adrenal glands. This cancer normally affects children before they turn 5 years old. Neuroblastoma is cancer that affects the central nervous system. If the tumor is detected early, the survival rate increases exponentially, almost 95%. However, if the tumor is detected after it metastasized, the survival decreases to about 50%.

In this article, the researchers use a genetically modified virus as a vector or a messenger to inject MDA-7 or otherwise known as melanoma differentiation-associated gene 7 into neuroblastoma cells. MDA-7 or otherwise known as interleukin 24 (IL-24) is a cancer-suppressing gene that helps the body fight back cancerous cells. However, neuroblastoma is resistant to this form of treatment and other normal forms of treatment as well which is why the mortality rate is so high when the tumor has metastasized.

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Experiments
  • Cancer-terminating virus containing MDA-7 inhibits neuroblastoma cell growth
  • Cancer-terminating virus containing MDA-7 starts programmed cell death in neuroblastoma
  • Cancer-terminating virus containing MDA-7 uses pathways independent of normal cancer killing pathways
  • Cancer-terminating virus containing MDA-7 promotes programmed cell death in neuroblastoma
  • Cancer-terminating virus containing MDA-7 is increased by upstream molecules
  • Cancer-terminating virus containing MDA-7 works in animals that have grown neuroblastoma tumors
• Implications
  • Viral Construction
  • Differentiation between Cancer and Non-cancer
• Support pages
  • Western Blot
  • TUNEL Assay
  • FACS Analysis
  • SDS-PAGE
  • Immunofluorescence Analysis
  • MTT Assay