ALK and neuroblastoma: In addition to tumor histology, many molecular genetic markers of NB have been identified, including amplification of the N-myc proto-oncogene protein (MYCN), mutations of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor, allelic deletions in the 1p, 3p and 11q chromosomal regions, chromosomal gain of 17 or tumor cell ploidy [7, 8].