Which oncogene is commonly amplified in neuroblastoma?

• A. EGFR
• B. N-MYC
• C. BRCA1
• D. RAS

Answer: (B)

Neuroblastoma commonly carries amplification of N-MYC, a transcription factor in the MYC family. When N-MYC is amplified, tumor cells produce a lot of this protein, which drives rapid cell division and hinders differentiation, leading to a more aggressive tumor. Clinically, N-MYC amplification occurs in roughly 20–30% of cases and is strongly linked to advanced stage and poorer prognosis, making it a key prognostic marker that guides risk stratification and treatment intensity.

Other genes listed are associated with different cancers or genetic contexts: EGFR amplification is a hallmark of glioblastoma; BRCA1 is a DNA repair gene linked to hereditary breast/ovarian cancer; RAS family genes are common oncogenes in many cancers but are not the characteristic amplification seen in neuroblastoma.