New genetic loci in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma has been associated genetically with amplification of the MYCN gene and with alteration of the short arm of chromosome 1 (1p). In pursuit of determining the spectrum of genetic loci damaged recurrently in neuroblastoma cells we have recently encountered two additional types of genomic abnormalities: i.) duplication of the MYCN gene on chromosome 2p24; and ii.) amplification of the gene MDM2. These alterations extend the spectrum of genetic lesions in neuroblastoma cells, although their incidence in primary tumor tissues has not been determined as yet.