Polina Kameneva

Dr. Polina Kameneva


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 May 2020 in bioRxiv
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TOThale Kristin Olsen
Thale Kristin Olsen
JOJoerg Otte
Joerg Otte
SMShenglin Mei
Shenglin Mei
PKPolina Kameneva
Polina Kameneva
ABAsa Bjoerklund
Asa Bjoerklund
NBNinib Baryawno
Ninib Baryawno
Neuroblastoma is a heterogeneous embryonal malignancy and the most deadly tumor of childhood, although a minor subset may show spontaneous differentiation. It arises from the multipotent neural crest lineage during development. Some of this multipotency is retained in neuroblastoma, which can give rise to both adrenergic and mesenchymal tumor cells. The mechanisms enabling such dual fates are unknown, but likely help neuroblastoma to evade existing therapies. To understand neuroblastoma plasticity, we analyzed patient tumors using single-cell transcriptomics. In addition to the heterogeneous adrenergic and mesenchymal populations, we identify a subpopulation of malignant cells resembling Schwann cell precursors (SCPs). This SCP-like population connects the adrenergic and mesenchymal compartments through transitions structurally reminiscent of the SCP cell-fate decision fork that occurs during normal development. While the directionality of such transitions in neuroblastoma remains to be established, this finding expands the potential reservoirs of malignant cells, and suggests intratumoral plasticity mechanisms relevant for therapeutic resistance and relapse.