Detection of MYCN DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosing isolated central nervous system relapse in neuroblastoma

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011 May;56(5):865-7. doi: 10.1002/pbc.22925. Epub 2011 Jan 16.

Abstract

We present the case of a 1-year-old female with stage-4 neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification; she was treated with five chemotherapy courses, resulting in normalization of elevated serum levels of tumor markers. Complete remission was achieved after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning. Nine months later, however, the tumor relapsed in the central nervous system (CNS). The serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the tumor markers were normal, but the MYCN copy number was high only in the CSF DNA, suggesting an isolated CNS recurrence. The MYCN copy number in the CSF DNA was reflective of response to treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms / etiology
  • DNA, Neoplasm / blood
  • DNA, Neoplasm / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Neuroblastoma / complications*
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / blood
  • Nuclear Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins / blood
  • Oncogene Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • MYCN protein, human
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins