The role of tumor suppressor genes in neuroblastoma is currently under intensive research. Recent reports seem to show that the NF1 gene plays a role in the pathogenesis of this tumor. In this study mutations at the gap related domain (GRD) of the NF1 gene were assesed in 29 neuroblastic tumors by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with the single strand conformation polymorphism technique (SSCP). We have also analysed p53 expression in 16 of those neuroblastomas by means of immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody that stains normal and mutant p53 protein. In no case could we detect either p53 expression or NF1 gene mutations. In light of these and previous results we can virtually exclude p53 from the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma, while NF1 should be further studied -out of its GRD-before concluding on its definite role in neuroblastoma initiation and/or progression.

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