Neuroblastoma Pathology and Classification for Precision Prognosis and Therapy Stratification

Abstract Tumors in neuroblastoma group offer one of the best models for investigating the biologically significant relationship between their genetic/molecular properties and morphologic manifestations. Over the past decades, histopathological analysis according to the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC) has provided invaluable information for determining the prognosis and therapy stratification for the patients with this disease. Now we are facing a great challenge for developing more efficient and less toxic treatment modalities for the patients with aggressive neuroblastomas. For this purpose, neuroblastoma pathology research needs to shift its gear to the direction of identifying "prognostic factors" to defining "actionable/druggable targets" in close collaboration with molecular biology, based on the concept of "precision medicine."