The interaction of a ligand (Neurotrophine-3) and its dependence receptor (TrkC) constitutes a novel mechanism for tumor control in pediatric cancers such as neuroblastoma, and may also be important to the inhibition of other cancers such as breast cancer. These findings support the concept concerning the design of anti-tumor therapeutic strategies targeting a new type of receptor, the dependence receptor. These receptors are indeed able to induce cell death when they are deprived of their ligand.