ALK Inhibitor Response in Melanomas Expressing EML4-ALK Fusions and Alternate ALK Isoforms.

ABSTRACT: Oncogenic ALK fusions occur in several types of cancer and can be effectively treated with ALK inhibitors; however, ALK fusions and treatment response have not been characterized in malignant melanomas. Recently, a novel isoform of ALK (ALK^ATI ) was reported in 11% of melanomas but the response of melanomas expressing ALK^ATI to ALK inhibition has not been well characterized. We analyzed 45 melanoma patient-derived xenograft models for ALK mRNA and protein expression. ALK expression was identified in 11 of 45 (24.4%) melanomas. Ten melanomas express wild-type (wt) ALK and/or ALK^ATI and one mucosal melanoma expresses multiple novel EML4-ALK fusion variants. Melanoma cells expressing differe

SUBMITTER: Couts KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5752582 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature