CAMKV kinase drives neuroblastoma growth and acts as a novel therapeutic target.

CAMKV kinase, previously thought inactive, is essential for neuroblastoma growth and correlates with poor patient outcomes, revealing a new therapeutic target.

• Why it matters: High-risk neuroblastoma often involves MYCN amplification, but targeting these transcription factors directly is difficult, creating a need for alternative strategies.
• What they did: Researchers used transcriptomics, ChIP-seq, and phosphoproteomics to show that CAMKV, a kinase with intrinsic activity, drives tumor proliferation; they tested genetic and chemical inhibition in cell and animal models.
• The result: Inhibiting CAMKV significantly reduces neuroblastoma cell growth and tumor progression, positioning it as a promising candidate for targeted therapy development in high-risk neuroblastoma.