Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements are known to occur in association with several tumors. The genes code for an enzyme called anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) or ALK tyrosine kinase receptor (also known as CD246) which is thought to play a role in brain development and exerts its effects on specific neurons in the nervous system. Rearrangements could result in anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 (ALK-1) protein expression.
The key tumors associated with these rearrangements include:
- lymphoma: diffuse large cell lymphoma 1
- certain non-small cell lung cancers: anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion oncogene positive non-small cell lung cancer 2
It is also described in association with:
- neuroblastoma: some familial cases
- inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor 3
- glioblastoma 4
- renal cell carcinoma - both adult and pediatric forms
- esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 5
- breast cancers: notably the inflammatory subtype (inflammatory breast cancer)
- adenocarcinoma of colon
- anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Clinical importance
Useful in determining the suitability of ALK-1 inhibitor therapy (e.g. crizotinib).
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