title: Evaluation of genetic heterogeneity in neuroblastoma.
abstract: METHODS
  The prognosis in neuroblastoma, which is the most common solid tumor in children, tends to vary greatly, and many studies have demonstrated both clinical and biological factors to be closely correlated with the outcome. In order to select the optimal treatment according to the degree of malignancy of neuroblastoma, it is essential to accurately and rapidly identify any genetic heterogeneity associated with the prognosis. We assessed the status of some genetic abnormalities (MYCN amplification, deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1, DNA ploidy, and a gain of the chromosome 17q region) associated with the prognosis using several molecular biological methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of several molecular biological techniques is thus considered to be useful for elucidating the degree of malignancy of neuroblastoma. In particular, diagnostic analyses based on a combination of the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method and the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method may be considered to be the most effective methods for quickly and accurately evaluating any aberrations in the gene dosages associated with the patients' outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajiri
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shono
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Sachiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suita
mesh_terms: D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009380:Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue / Q000235:genetics*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics*; D011003:Ploidies; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction