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Inverse Relationship between trk Expression and N-myc Amplification in Human Neuroblastomas¹

Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110

We examined the expression of the trk protooncogene in a series of 82 neuroblastomas to determine its relationship to N-myc amplification and expression, disease stage, patient age, and survival. We found that virtually all stage I, II, and IV–S patients had moderate to high levels of trk expression, whereas most advanced stage neuroblastomas had low or absent levels. All but one tumor with N-myc amplification had low or absent trk expression, and the one exception was regressing at the time it was resected. Conversely, all neuroblastomas identified by mass screening had moderate to high expression of trk, and all these patients are surviving. Thus, trk expression was associated with an absence of N-myc amplification, lower disease stage, lower patient age, and favorable outcome. Tumors with high trk expression may be more likely to differentiate, regress spontaneously, or respond well to therapy.

¹ This work was supported in part by NIH Grants CA-49712 and CA-39771 (G. M. B.) and a grant from the NCI-JFCR Cooperative Cancer Research Program (A. N.).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 400 South Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110.

Received 11/26/91. Accepted 1/17/92.

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