Neuroblastoma: prevalence of genetic alterations in different histological groups

<i>MYCN</i> gene amplification, 1p deletion/imbalance and 11q deletion/imbalance are more common in tumors from the unfavorable morphological group. Aberrations of the chromosomal region 1p and <i>MYCN</i> amplification are events that often occur together, while 11q aberrations, on the contrary, have an inverse correlation with <i>MYCN</i> amplification. 11q deletion/imbalance is more often detected in tumors with <i>MYCN</i> gain. In 4 cases, 1p and 11q chromosomal aberrations were detected in the same tumor, all in the unfavorable histological group. Two cases with chromosomal aberrations in stromal cells were also identified. Expression of MYC protein was detected in 5 cases, of which 2 showed amplification of the <i>MYC</i> gene.