MYCN-mediated overexpression of mitotic spindle regulatory genes and loss of p53-p21 function jointly support the survival of tetraploid neuroblastoma cells

High-risk neuroblastomas often harbor structural chromosomal alterations, including amplified MYCN, and usually have a near-di/tetraploid DNA index, but the mechanisms creating tetraploidy remain unclear. Gene-expression analyses revealed that certain MYCN/MYC and p53/pRB-E2F target genes, especially regulating mitotic processes, are strongly expressed in near-di/tetraploid neuroblastomas. Using a functional RNAi screening approach and live-cell imaging, we identified a group of genes, including MAD2L1, which after knockdown induced mitotic-linked cell death in MYCN-amplified and TP53-mutated neuroblastoma cells. We found that MYCN/MYC-mediated overactivation of the metaphase–anaphase checkpoint synergizes with loss of p53-p21 function to prevent arrest or apoptosis of tetraploid neuroblastoma cells.

► Neuroblastomas with DNA indices between 1.0 and 1.11 or 1.77 and 2.11 are correlated with poor patient outcome.
► Near-di/tetraploid neuroblastomas highly express MYCN/MYC and p53/pRB-E2F target genes involved in mitosis regulation.
► Loss of p53-p21 function is associated with tetraploidization in neuroblastoma cells.
► Selective inhibition of mitosis-regulating genes, such as MAD2L1, causes apoptosis in MYCN-amplified and TP53-mutant cells.