Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41495714›Full record

ArticleJournal of translational medicine2026

Third-generation whole-genome sequencing reveals the role of CNTNAP2 as a tumor suppressor gene in high-risk neuroblastomas.

Yun Liu, Jing Zhao, Kaiyuan Wang, Yan Jin, Baocheng Gong, Mingyou Gao, Yuren Xia, Jie Li, Xia Zhang, Zhenyu Shi and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of translational medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. A comprehensive survey of genetic variants in neuroblastoma.Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yun Liu *Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Jing Zhao *Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Kaiyuan Wang *Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Yan JinDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Baocheng GongDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Mingyou GaoDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Yuren XiaDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Jie LiDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Xia ZhangDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Zhenyu ShiDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Jie ZhangDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China.
Li BaoDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China. chengdu1125@hotmail.com.
Qiang ZhaoDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Liver Cancer Center, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Huanhuxi Road, Tianjin, 300060, China. zhaoqiang@tjmuch.com.

Funding

the National Key R&D Program of China 2018YFC1313000the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin 24JCQNJC00860
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeuroblastoma is a common and aggressive pediatric sympathetic nervous system tumor. Genomic structural variants (SVs) contribute substantially to neuroblastoma, yet remain under-characterized in high-risk neuroblastomas. We aimed to elucidate neuroblastoma pathogenesis using third-generation whole-genome sequence high-risk cases to identify driver aberrations and explore potential therapeutic strategies.

methodsWe analyzed third-generation whole-genome sequencing data of 20 high-risk neuroblastoma samples and combined the findings with those obtained from the analysis of clinical samples, in vitro models, and public datasets.

resultsThe contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene was observed to be frequently aberrated because of structural variants in high-risk neuroblastoma samples. CNTNAP2 expression was significantly correlated with favorable histology and could be used to predict prognosis using clinical samples and neuroblastoma datasets. Overexpression and knockdown experiments and transcriptomic analysis revealed that CNTNAP2 was primarily involved in neuronal differentiation and axon guidance pathways; moreover, CNTNAP2 was required for neuroblastoma differentiation and affected cancer stemness. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry revealed that CNTNAP2 interacted with cytoskeletal proteins like drebrin 1 (DBN1) and myosin-heavy chain 9 (MYH9). CNTNAP2 dynamically reorganises actin and microtubules for DBN1-mediated neuronal differentiation. CNTNAP2 also reduces CTNNB1 transcription and β-catenin pathway activation by inhibiting MYH9 nuclear translocation. CNTNAP2 overexpression in neuroblastoma cell lines resulted in cell cycle arrest, decreased cell proliferation and metastasis.

conclusionsThe recurrent loss of CNTNAP2 in neuroblastoma contributes to an aggressive phenotype by impairing neuronal differentiation and increasing cancer stemness. These findings may serve as a foundation for developing therapeutic strategies to overcome barriers to differentiation.

Indexed as

Genes, Tumor SuppressorGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseMembrane ProteinsNerve Tissue ProteinsNeuroblastomaWhole Genome Sequencingbeta CateninCell DifferentiationCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansNeoplastic Stem CellsRisk Factorsbeta CateninCNTNAP2 protein, humanMembrane ProteinsNerve Tissue ProteinsContactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2)DifferentiationMYCNNeuroblastomaThird-generation whole-genome oxford nanopore sequencing

Identifiers

PMID41495714
PMCPMC12870515

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.