BDNF and neuroblastoma: BDNF and IGF-I protected human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y or SH-EP1 cells from chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway,26, 27, 28 FGF2 and FGF4 impaired oxidative stress induced-apoptosis, and FGF1 inhibited serum depletion induced-apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells.13, 29 To our knowledge, no study was performed to examine the role of growth factors on p53-dependent apoptosis in neuroblastoma.