Do pharmacokinetic polymorphisms explain treatment failure in high-risk patients with neuroblastoma?

Purpose Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumour in childhood. It accounts for 15% of all paediatric oncology deaths. In the last few decades, improvement in treatment outcome for high-risk patients has not occurred, with an overall survival rate <30–40%. Many reasons may account for such a low survival rate. The aim of this review is to evaluate whether pharmacogenetic factors can explain treatment failure in neuroblastoma.