title: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase in human cancer.
abstract: The receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play a critical role, controlling cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation of normal cells. Their pivotal function has been firmly established in the pathogenesis of many cancers as well. The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a transmembrane RTK, originally identified in the nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK chimera of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, has emerged as a novel tumorigenic player in several human cancers. In this review, we describe the expression of the ALK-RTK, its related fusion proteins, and their molecular mechanisms of activation. Novel tailored strategies are briefly illustrated for the treatment of ALK-positive neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies (CeRMS), University of Torino, Via Santena 7, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lasorsa
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Riera
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Machiorlatti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.forename: Maurilio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponzoni
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertoni
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Piccaluga
authors.forename: Stefano A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Inghirami
mesh_terms: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000081247:CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase; D000077547:Crizotinib; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000378:metabolism; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D019061:src-Family Kinases
chemical_list: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000081247:CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase; D000077547:Crizotinib; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051966:Phospholipase C gamma; D010880:Piperidines; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019061:src-Family Kinases; C000626173:ALK protein, human; C000631346:CSK protein, human