The differential intrinsic susceptibility MRI vascular phenotype observed in tumors in the Th-MYCN and Th-ALKF1174L/Th-MYCN models reported herein demonstrates an important role for ALKF1174L in angiogenesis in MYCN-overexpressing neuroblastoma in vivo, strongly suggesting a role in vasculogenesis. This evidence concerns the gene MYCN and neuroblastoma.