Diversity in neuroblastomas and discrimination of the risk to progress

The clinical diversity of Neuroblastomas (NBs) was discriminated into three groups with high sensitivity and specificity to patient's outcome. The 'high risk' NB is defined with any of following conditions, MYCN amplification or unfavorable histology of International Neuroblastoma Pathological Classification (INPC) or low Ha-ras/trk A expression. The 'low risk' NB is defined with all following conditions, single copy of MYCN and INPC favorable histology and high Ha-ras/trk A expression and localized tumor. The remaining NBs were classified into 'intermediate risk' ones. According to these criteria, the diversity of the 248 mass-screening NBs was shown with variety progressive risk; 40% were classified in low risk group, 25% were in high risk group and 35% were in intermediate risk group.