title: N-myc gene amplification/expression in localized stroma-rich neuroblastoma (ganglioneuroblastoma).
abstract: Using nucleic acid analysis and in situ hybridization we have demonstrated N-myc amplification and expression in two children with a localized (stages I and II) stroma-rich neuroblastoma (NB) (ganglioneuroblastoma). The phenomenon was observed in both undifferentiated and mature ganglion-like cells. The two children are alive and disease-free without any treatment after 16 and 17 months. These observations suggest that morphologic differentiation in NB in vivo is not necessarily followed by a decrease in N-myc expression. Moreover, N-myc amplification does not represent an adverse prognostic factor. In contrast with what happens in undifferentiated NB, N-myc amplification does not have an adverse effect on prognosis when occurring in localized (stages I and II), stroma-rich NB with a favorable histology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostic Research Group, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabbretti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brisigotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cozzutto
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tonini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callea
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005729:Ganglioneuroma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc