Enhanced MYCN oncogene expression in human neuroblastoma cells results in increased susceptibility to growth inhibition by TNF alpha

Human neuroblastoma cells with normal expression of the endogenous MYCN oncogene were transfected with a vector containing an exogenous MYCN gene. The transfected cells expressed the exogenous MYCN at high levels and had acquired a phenotype resembling that of cells from advanced human neuroblastomas. Proliferation of the MYCN-transfected, but not of the untransfected, neuroblastoma cells was inhibited by low concentrations of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Our results suggest that TNF alpha could be useful for the treatment of advanced human neuroblastomas, in which high MYCN expression seems to be a causative factor.