# MYCN (N-myc)

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/mycn/  
OnCo record `mycn` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

MYCN is a growth-driving gene that some neuroblastomas copy many times over; that amplification is one of the strongest signs the tumour is aggressive and sets the intensity of treatment.

## Summary

MYCN encodes the N-myc transcription factor, a paralogue of MYC expressed in the developing neural crest. Amplification (many extra copies, detected by FISH) occurs in about 20 percent of neuroblastomas and places a child in the high-risk group of the INRG and COG classifications whatever the age or stage; it also defines a rare aggressive spinal ependymoma group and is amplified in some medulloblastomas and retinoblastomas. There is no approved MYCN-directed drug; the readout page carries the amplification rule and the risk groups that use it.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: N-myc; NMYC; bHLHe37
- Tags: biomarker-parent
- Symbol: MYCN
- Class: transcription
- Biology: N-myc dimerises with MAX and drives proliferation, ribosome biogenesis and metabolic programmes while repressing differentiation; amplified tumours depend on it and are being targeted indirectly through Aurora A, BET and CDK7 inhibitors.
- Where found: Neuroblastoma (amplified in about 20 percent); Spinal ependymoma, MYCN-amplified; Medulloblastoma group 3; Retinoblastoma

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-Myc
- HGNC HGNC:7559: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:7559
- UniProt P04198: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P04198/entry

## Connected records

- biomarkers: [MYCN amplification](https://onco.cc/biomarkers/mycn-amp/)
- cancers: [High-risk neuroblastoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/neuroblastoma-high-risk/), [Neuroblastoma (paediatric)](https://onco.cc/cancers/neuroblastoma/)
- terms: [FISH / ISH (in situ hybridisation)](https://onco.cc/terms/fish/), [Gene amplification and copy-number change](https://onco.cc/terms/gene-amplification/), [MYCN amplification](https://onco.cc/terms/mycn-amplification/)
- collections: [CIViC](https://onco.cc/collections/civic/), [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/), [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/mycn.json