EML4-ALK fusion gene and efficacy of an ALK kinase inhibitor in lung cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The EML4-ALK fusion gene has been detected in approximately 7% of Japanese non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). We determined the frequency of EML4-ALK in Caucasian NSCLC and in NSCLC cell lines. We also determined whether TAE684, a specific ALK kinase inhibitor, would inhibit the growth of EML4-ALK-containing cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

Experimental design

We screened 305 primary NSCLC [both U.S. (n = 138) and Korean (n = 167) patients] and 83 NSCLC cell lines using reverse transcription-PCR and by exon array analyses. We evaluated the efficacy of TAE684 against NSCLC cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

Results

We detected four different variants, including two novel variants, of EML4-ALK using reverse transcription-PCR in 8 of 305 tumors (3%) and 3 of 83 (

SUBMITTER: Koivunen JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3025451 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature