INTRODUCTION ALK gene rearrangement is observed in a small subset (3-7%) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The efficacy of crizotinib was shown in lung cancer patients harbouring ALK rearrangement. Nowadays, the analysis of ALK gene rearrangement is added to molecular examination of predictive factors. AIM OF THE STUDY The frequency of ALK gene rearrangement as well as the type ...

BACKGROUND Detecting an ALK fusion gene in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) could provide evidence to guide individualized therapy. METHODS The 5'/3' imbalance strategy for quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) was developed to detect ALK fusion genes in circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) of NSCLC patients. RESULTS This method was validated in patients with the ALK fus...

AIMS In anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), the site of origin has been described as an important prognostic factor. Recently, a fusion protein containing anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) was described in systemic nodal ALCL, and shown to be associated with a good prognosis. The aims of this study were to investigate whether the presence of ALK protein differs between ALCL of different sites...

Background Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms that are composed of myofibroblastic cells accompanied by inflammatory infiltrate. We investigated the immune profiles of IMTs, including PD-L1 expression and proportion of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), as well as its clinicopathological characteristics according to ALK gene rearrangementstatus. ...

Several decades of cancer research have revealed a pivotal role for tyrosine kinases as key regulators of signaling pathways, controlling cell growth and differentiation. Deregulation of tyrosine kinase-mediated signaling occurs frequently in cancer and is believed to drive the initiation and progression of disease. Chromosomal rearrangements involving the tyrosine kinase anaplastic lymphoma ki...

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase protein implicated in a variety of tumors, both solid and hematological. Few years ago crizotinib, an inhibitor of the receptor tyrosine kinases c-Met and ALK, demonstrated its activity in ALK positive non-small-cell lung cancer and other tumors with excellent toxicity profile. Subsequently several ALK inhibitors have been developed...

Oncogenic ROS1 fusion proteins are molecular drivers in multiple malignancies, including a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The phylogenetic proximity of the ROS1 and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) catalytic domains led to the clinical repurposing of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved ALK inhibitor crizotinib as a ROS1 inhibitor. Despite the antitumor activity of cri...

PURPOSE EML4-ALK fusions define a subset of lung cancers that can be effectively treated with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors. Unfortunately, the duration of response is heterogeneous and acquired resistance limits their ultimate efficacy. Thus, a better understanding of resistance mechanisms will help to enhance tumor control in EML4-ALK-positive tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN By ap...

INTRODUCTION The rearrangement of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene accounts for approximately 1%-6% of lung adenocarcinoma cases and defines a molecular subgroup of tumors characterized by clinical sensitivity to ALK inhibitors such as crizotinib. This study aimed to identify the relationship between ALK rearrangement and the clinicopathologic characteristics of non-small cell lung can...

Anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL) are mainly characterized by harboring the fusion protein nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK). The ALK inhibitor, crizotinib specifically induced apoptosis in Ba/F3 cells expressing NPM-ALK by inhibiting the activation of NPM-ALK and its downstream molecule, signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3). We found that α-to...