Immunohistochemical detection of ALK protein identifies APC mutated medulloblastoma and differentiates the WNT-activated medulloblastoma from other types of posterior fossa childhood tumors.

ABSTRACT: Expression of the ALK gene strongly correlates with the WNT-activated medulloblastomas, which are routinely identified by detection of CTNNB1 mutation. However, some tumors have mutations in other than CTNNB1 genes. Therefore, we investigated if ALK expression may identify WNT-activated tumors without CTNNB1 mutation. In addition, we examined if ALK expression may differentiate WNT-activated medulloblastoma from other malignant posterior fossa tumors. ALK expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry (clone D5F3) in 70 patients with posterior fossa tumours. Among 55 medulloblastomas, 6 tumors showed ALK expression in > 50% of tumor cells. In one tumor, with ALK positive reaction, negative nuclear reaction against β-catenin and the lack of CTNNB1 mutation, next generation sequencing re

SUBMITTER: Lastowska M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6514113 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature