Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid tumors in childhood and usually accompanied with poor prognosis and rapid tumor progression when diagnosed with amplification of the proto-oncogene N-Myc.
MYCN is an oncogene frequently overexpressed in pediatric solid tumors whereas few evidences suggest his involvement in the pathogenesis of haematologic malignancies.
MYCN has been the first oncogene found amplified in direct preparations of solid tumors, the group of oncogenes undergoing amplification has considerably expanded since.
The distributions of Pvu II and Sph I alleles of the N-myc oncogene (also known as MYCN) were studied in a series of normal individuals and pediatric patients with solid tumors.