title: Aberrant copy numbers of ALK gene is a frequent genetic alteration in neuroblastomas.
abstract: A total of 50 neuroblastomas were assessed for frequency of ALK gene copy number aberrations by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization using a break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization probe. The data were compared with status of MYCN, 11q, 17q, and 1p36. We observed ALK aberrations (amplification, 1 of 45; gain, 15 of 45 and loss/imbalance, 11 of 45) in a total of 27 (60%) of 45 neuroblastomas. Synchronic MYCN and ALK aberrations accounted for 23 of 45 (51%) tumors; however, MYCN alterations were also detected in 11 (60%) of 18 tumors without ALK aberrations. Our data suggest that copy number aberrations of the ALK gene is a frequent genetic event in the development of neuroblastomas. In addition, no correlation was observed between ALK aberrations and alterations of 11q, 17q, and 1p36.
authors: Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors: Manish Mani
authors: MM
authors: Subramaniam
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Piqueras
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Navarro
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Noguera
mesh_terms: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D000071447:N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: C459801:MYCN protein, human; D000071447:N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases