Amplified MYCN in human neuroblastoma: paradigm for the translation of molecular genetics to clinical oncology.

Increase in the dosage of cellular oncogenes by DNA amplification is a frequent genetic alteration of cancer cells. In neuroblastoma, amplification of the gene MYCN has been associated with aggressively growing cancers and is an indicator for poor prognosis. MYCN amplification is of predictive value in identifying patients with neuroblastoma who require specific therapeutic regimens and those who do not benefit from chemotherapy.