Altogether, simultaneous inhibition of ALK and HDAC8 eliminates ALK wild-type, constitutively active (F1174L-mutated and ALK-amplified), and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines, but not other malignant and non-transformed cell lines, and MYCN amplification sensitizes neuroblastoma cells to the combination treatment. The gene discussed is HDAC8; the disease is neuroblastoma.