Pinto N, et al. - In an analytic cohort of 1,242 patients from four consecutive children’s oncology group high-risk trials, researchers investigated clinical and biological characteristics related to induction response. They used the 1993 International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria to assess the response. End-induction partial response (PR) or better was considered to be the primary end-point. Age < 18 months, International Neuroblastoma Staging System non-stage 4, MYCN amplification, 1p loss of heterozygosity (LOH), no 11q LOH, and high mitosis-karyorrhexis index were identified as baseline factors related to ≥ PR. They found that only the absence of 11q LOH continued to be significantly related to ≥ PR upon multivariable analysis. Longer survival was observed in relation to improved end-induction response in high-risk neuroblastoma. Patients with 11q LOH were found to be less likely to respond to induction therapies. The investigators recommended prioritizing these patients for new approaches in future trials.