While hereditary tumours have been described as being caused by activating mutations in the kinase tyrosine domain of the oncogene ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase), with the gene PHOX2B (paired-like homeobox 2b) also being involved in this process, sporadic NB appears to be associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in chromosome 6p22, where the gene FLJ22536 is located. The gene discussed is ALK; the disease is neoplasm.