title: Discordance between anaplastic lymphoma kinase status in primary non-small-cell lung cancers and their corresponding metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) has attracted considerable attention as a potential molecular target in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it is unclear whether ALK alterations are acquired during the metastatic progression of NSCLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ALK status and ALK expression were evaluated in a series of 67 primary NSCLCs and their corresponding metastatic lesions using fluorescence in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. ALK rearrangement was detected in 7.5% (5/67) of the primary tumours and in 9.0% (6/67) of the metastases (P < 0.001). ALK copy number gain (CNG) was detected in 1.5% (1/67) of the primary tumours and in 35.8% (24/67) of the metastases. Whereas ALK rearrangement was detected only in adenocarcinomas, CNG was identified in various histological subtypes of NSCLC. ALK expression was detected in 11.9% (8/67) of the primary tumours and in 25.4% (17/67) of the metastatic lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ALK alteration and ALK expression can be acquired during metastatic progression in NSCLC, and ALK CNG is associated with ALK expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 300 Gumi-dong, Seongnam, Seoul.
authors.forename: Hyojin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Xianhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Seol-Bong
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Ping-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Gheeyoung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Sanghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jheon
authors.forename: Choon-Taek
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Haeng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases