Neuroblastoma—a cancer that starts in nerve tissue outside of the brain—is the third most common cancer in children and accounts for about 15% of pediatric cancer-related deaths.

Sirtuins (SIRTs), a family of proteins with roles in metabolism, aging, and genomic stability, have been linked to various cancers, but their role in neuroblastoma has not been explored.

Dai Chung, MD, and colleagues found that a non-specific SIRT inhibitor reduced the growth rate of cultured neuroblastoma cells and induced the formation of neurite-like structures consistent with neuronal differentiation (maturation). Using a genetic strategy to knock down specific SIRTs, they discovered that SIRT6 promotes neuroblastoma cell growth and represses differentiation. SIRT6 expression was reduced in differentiated human neuroblastoma samples and in cultured neuroblastoma cells that were induced to differentiate using retinoic acid.

The findings, reported in the February issue of Anticancer Research, highlight the oncogenic properties of SIRT6 in neuroblastoma and suggest SIRT6 as a target for new therapeutics for neuroblastoma.