Despite intensive treatment, about half of all children with high-risk neuroblastoma die of their disease. These aggressive tumors often have a mutated MYCN gene, which drives tumor cell growth by helping them to produce the necessary building blocks for DNA, proteins, and polyamines. Polyamines are essential chemicals created from amino acids like proline and arginine that enable cells to grow and to survive. Tumors with high levels of polyamines behave aggressively and can resist treatment.
