A combinatorial drug screen in PDX-derived primary rhabdomyosarcoma cells identifies the NOXA - BCL-XL/MCL-1 balance as target for re-sensitization to first-line therapy in recurrent tumors.

First-line therapy for most pediatric sarcoma is based on chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy and surgery. A significant number of patients experience drug resistance and development of relapsed tumors. Drugs that have the potential to re-sensitize relapsed tumor cells toward chemotherapy treatment are therefore of great clinical interest.