Food insecurity impacts neuroblastoma pathogenesis in murine xenograft tumor models

A recent landmark study by the National Cancer Institute's Children's Oncology Group identified an independent association between childhood poverty and increased mortality rates in children with neuroblastoma, beyond known biological, access, or treatment variables. Neuroblastoma, a prevalent extracranial nervous system tumor in children, is influenced by both biological and environmental factors. Recent studies suggest a direct link between poverty and poorer cancer survival outcomes, yet the biological mechanisms underlying this influence remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that socioeconomic stressors like food insecurity significantly impact neuroblastoma progression. To investigate this, we developed a murine model that simulates socioeconomic challenges by varying chow accessibility to mimic food insecurity. Our results demonstrate that food insecurity significantly accelerates neuroblastoma tumor growth and metastatic spread compared to controls. This exacerbation of tumor burden in food-insecure mice underscores the potential influence of socioeconomic stressors on cancer dynamics and challenges the traditional focus on genetic and biological factors alone. Our findings highlight the crucial role of socioeconomic factors in tumor biology and advocate for a more holistic approach that integrates socioeconomics and social determinants into therapeutic strategies.