MYCN and neuroblastoma: A number of factors that correlate with the response to treatment and outcome of patients with neuroblastoma have been identified, including patient age, stage, histology, MYCN amplification, DNA ploidy, 1p deletions, 17q gain (Meddeb et al, 1996; Bown et al, 1999), TRKA expression (Nakagawara et al, 1993; Suzuki et al, 1993) and CD44 cell-surface expression (Combaret et al, 1996).