The evolution of clinical molecular genetics. Neuroblastoma as a model tumor.

The use of cytogenetics and molecular genetics to elucidate mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of human cancer has led to important advances in our understanding of cancer etiology. The identification of a reciprocal (11;22) translocation in peripheral neuroectodermal tumors and N-myc amplification in classical childhood neuroblastoma provides new guidelines for the diagnostic evaluation of peripheral nervous system tumors. New approaches to the staging of these tumors are likely to include the evaluation of genetic alterations associated with tumor progression. Also, new therapeutic approaches will be focused on the modification of specific molecular targets responsible for neoplastic growth.