Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Mosaic Zebrafish Transgenesis for Functional Genomic Analysis of Candidate Cooperative Genes in Tumor Pathogenesis
Published on: March 31, 2015
Aberrant copy numbers of ALK gene is a frequent genetic alteration in neuroblastomas
Manish Mani Subramaniam1, Marta Piqueras, Samuel Navarro
1Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Abstract:
A total of 50 neuroblastomas were assessed for frequency of ALK gene copy number aberrations by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization using a break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization probe. The data were compared with status of MYCN, 11q, 17q, and 1p36. We observed ALK aberrations (amplification, 1 of 45; gain, 15 of 45 and loss/imbalance, 11 of 45) in a total of 27 (60%) of 45 neuroblastomas. Synchronic MYCN and ALK aberrations accounted for 23 of 45 (51%) tumors; however, MYCN alterations were also detected in 11 (60%) of 18 tumors without ALK aberrations. Our data suggest that copy number aberrations of the ALK gene is a frequent genetic event in the development of neuroblastomas. In addition, no correlation was observed between ALK aberrations and alterations of 11q, 17q, and 1p36.
Related Concept Videos
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...
Abnormal Proliferation
Abnormal Proliferation
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

