We have analysed 29 neuroblastomas for TP53 mutations in exons 5 to 8 by means of the polymerase chain reaction in combination with the single-strand conformation polymorphism technique. We could not detect any mutation. These results indicate that, in contrast to the majority of tumors so far studied, TP53 mutations do not seem to be important for the development of neuroblastomas. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.