Detection of N-myc oncogene expression in human neuroblastoma by in situ hybridization and blot analysis: relationship to clinical outcome.
We studied N-myc oncogene expression in 13 human neuroectodermal tumors and one teratoma by in situ hybridization. In four of six neuroblastomas, there was increased N-myc expression (15 to 49% of the cells). Many of the primitive neuroblastic cells had an increase of N-myc RNA not observed in the larger, more differentiated cells. Two neuroblastomas matured to ganglioneuromas; no biopsies performed during this progression expressed increased N-myc RNA. Three ganglioneuroblastomas, two tumors presenting as ganglioneuromas, a cerebral neuroectodermal tumor, a neurofibrosarcoma, and the teratoma did not have increased N-myc expression. The data obtained by in situ hybridization correlated well with data obtained by blot analysis. Neuroblastomas/ganglioneuroblastomas with a favorable course did not have appreciable elevation of N-myc expression over 10 to 77 mo of follow-up; thus N-myc may not be involved in the maintenance of the neoplastic state. However, such tumors with a fatal outcome 2 to 14 mo after diagnosis usually had elevated N-myc expression. These findings suggest a relationship between elevated levels of N-myc RNA and poor prognosis.
E F
EF
Grady-Leopardi
M
M
Schwab
A R
AR
Ablin
W
W
Rosenau
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009857:Oncogenes; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis
D012313:RNA