Abstract:
Objective To investigate the relationship between N-myc protein expression and neuroblastoma recurrence after complete remission.
Methods Forty-nine children with neuroblastoma who were admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, and who achieved initial complete remission were retrospectively analyzed. The children were categorized into two groups: an N-myc protein-positive group (n=27) and an N-myc protein-negative group (control group, n=22). Kaplan-Meier univariate analysis and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model were used to evaluate the relationship between N-myc protein expression and neuroblastoma recurrence.
Results The 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates of 49 children with neuroblastoma were 75.7% and 65.0%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival and RFS rates were 64.2% and 51.6%, respectively, in the N-myc protein-positive group and 90.9% and 81.8%, respectively, in the control group, with the rates being significantly lower in the N-myc protein-positive group than in the control group (P<0.05). Positive N-myc protein expression was an independent risk factor for neuroblastoma recurrence in children with complete remission (P<0.05).
Conclusions Positive N-myc protein expression is a key risk factor that leads to recurrence after complete remission in children with neuroblastoma. In children with neuroblastoma and positive N-myc protein expression, more attention should be paid to consolidation therapy after complete remission and enhanced monitoring of tumor recurrence, which may help avoid neuroblastoma recurrence to the maximum extent and improve long-term prognosis.
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