Therapeutic potential of MYCN-inhibitors in hepatoblastoma

Introduction: RNA sequencing identified MYCN as a gene highly overexpressed in hepatoblastoma (HB). Thus, inhibition of MYCN by the Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 (Alisertib) or the Bet bromodomain protein inhibitor JQ1 might be a therapeutic option in HB. Methods: Gene expression was measured by RNA sequencing and real-time PCR, growth inhibition by MTT-assays, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, apoptosis by Western blot, and spindle disruption by alpha tubulin immunostaining. Results: MYCN was found to be overexpressed in 36/48 HB cases and 4/5 HB cell lines. Treatment with MLN8237 and JQ1 resulted in a…