Unique clinicopathologic features characterize ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma in the western population.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The anaplastic large cell kinase gene (ALK) is rearranged in approximately 5% of lung adenocarcinomas within the Asian population. We evaluated the incidence and the characteristics of ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinomas within the western population and the optimal diagnostic modality to detect ALK rearrangements in routine clinical practice.

Experimental design

We tested 358 lung adenocarcinomas from three institutions for ALK rearrangements by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry with and without tyramide amplification. The clinicopathologic characteristics of tumors with and without ALK rearrangements were compared.

Results

We identified 20 (5.6%) lung adenocarcinomas with ALK rearrangements within our cohort of western patient

SUBMITTER: Rodig SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2865649 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature