Super-enhancer-driven MAB21L2 promotes neuroblastoma progression

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a prevalent pediatric tumor, accounting for over 15% of cancer-related fatalities in children. Super-enhancers (SEs), as pivotal cis-regulatory elements known for driving oncogene expression across various tumors, may serve as an innovative strategy for deciphering NB pathogenesis. Here, we meticulously analyzed epigenomic and transcriptomic data to delineate the distinct SE landscape in NB. Our study identified a NB-specific and NB-common SE at the MAB21L2 locus. Functional analyses further underlined MAB21L2’s oncogenic role in NB, linking its high expression to poor patient outcomes. MAB21L2 knockdown strikingly inhibited the growth of NB tumor cells in vitro and reduced their proliferation in vivo. Notably, through RNA-seq analysis and experimental verification, we demonstrated that MAB21L2 substantially enhanced the migratory capacity of NB cells. Collectively, these findings underscore the indispensable role of MAB21L2, an SE-driven gene, in the oncogenesis and progression of NB, indicating its potential as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of this aggressive malignancy.