Inconsistent results in the analysis of ALK rearrangements in non-small cell lung cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Identification of targetable EML4-ALK fusion proteins has revolutionized the treatment of a minor subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Although fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is regarded as the gold standard for detection of ALK rearrangements, ALK immunohistochemistry (IHC) is often used as screening tool in clinical practice. In order to unbiasedly analyze the diagnostic impact of such a screening strategy, we compared ALK IHC with ALK FISH in three large representative Swedish NSCLC cohorts incorporating clinical parameters and gene expression data.

Methods

ALK rearrangements were detected using FISH on tissue microarrays (TMAs), including tissue from 851 NSCLC patients. In parallel, ALK protein expression was detected using IHC,

SUBMITTER: Mattsson JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4974795 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature