Here we have found that N-Myc regulates the expression of a number of genes encoding stem-related factors in neuroblastoma and in NSC, including lif, klf2, klf4, and lin28b. The regulation of klf2, klf4, and lin28b occurs both in tumors and stem cells, suggesting enforced expression of aspects of a pluripotency program by N-Myc may contribute to neuroblastoma formation. The gene discussed is MYCN; the disease is neuroblastoma.