Neuroblastoma is a common childhood
cancer with almost a third of those affected still dying, thus new therapeutic strategies need to be explored. Current
experimental therapies focus mostly on inhibiting oncogenic
transcription factor signalling. Although LIN28B, DICER and other
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have reported roles in
neuroblastoma development and patient outcome, the role of RBPs in
neuroblastoma is relatively unstudied. In order to elucidate novel RBPs involved in MYCN-amplified and other high-risk
neuroblastoma subtypes, we performed differential
mRNA expression analysis of RBPs in a large primary tumour cohort (n = 498). Additionally, we found via Kaplan-Meier scanning analysis that 685 of the 1483 tested RBPs have prognostic value in
neuroblastoma. For the top putative oncogenic candidates, we analysed their expression in
neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as summarised their characteristics and existence of chemical inhibitors. Moreover, to help explain their association with
neuroblastoma subtypes, we reviewed candidate RBPs' potential as
biomarkers, and their mechanistic roles in neuronal and
cancer contexts. We found several highly significant RBPs including RPL22L1, RNASEH2A, PTRH2, MRPL11 and AFF2, which remain uncharacterised in
neuroblastoma. Although not all RBPs appear suitable for
drug design, or carry prognostic significance, we show that several RBPs have strong rationale for inhibition and mechanistic studies, representing an alternative, but nonetheless promising therapeutic strategy in
neuroblastoma treatment.