Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumour that is most commonly diagnosed in young children under 5 years old. It represents between 8 and 10% of all childhood cancers, and is the most common tumour found in children younger than a year old. Approximately 700 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year. The majority of these children face a 5-year survival rate of between 25 and 30%.

Like other childhood cancers, neuroblastoma is not preventable and does not arise because of lifestyle choices. It is also very difficult to detect, which often means that the cancer is not found until it has spread to other areas in the body and has essentially become untreatable. Childhood cancers are the leading cause of death by disease in North American children under the age of 15.

Current treatments for neuroblastoma were designed for adults and can be highly toxic for children, causing long-term health issues for survivors.

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