title: The ALK translocation in advanced non-small-cell lung carcinomas: preapproval testing experience at a single cancer centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the ALK translocation in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) seen at a European cancer centre, and its association with EGFR mutations, KRAS mutations and MET amplification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included samples from 86 patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC. ALK fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) was performed using the ALK break-apart probe set (Vysis). ALK FISH-positive cases were defined as those with more than 15% break-apart signals or isolated red signals in 50 cells. EGFR and KRAS mutations were determined by direct sequencing. All ALK-positive cases were analysed retrospectively for MET amplification using a FISH assay, and for ALK mutations by sequencing. We found nine (10.5%) ALK-positive cases, all in adenocarcinomas and the majority in female patients (88.9%). Signet ring cells were observed in four (44.4%) of the nine patients. None of the ALK translocated cases showed MET amplifications or EGFR, KRAS and ALK mutations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of ALK translocation in an unselected population of European patients with advanced NSCLCs was 10%. This alteration was mutually exclusive with EGFR and KRAS mutations, as well as with MET amplification. If multiplexing is considered at the preanalytical phase, lung biopsy specimens are sufficient for performing several predictive assays.
authors: Laboratorio de Dianas Terapéuticas, Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal, Hospital Universitario Madrid Sanchinarro, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Conde
authors: Bárbara
authors: B
authors: Angulo
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Izquierdo
authors: Luna
authors: L
authors: Muñoz
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Suárez-Gauthier
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Plaza
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Dominguez
authors: Maribel
authors: M
authors: Torres
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Madrigal
authors: Belén
authors: B
authors: Rubio-Viqueira
authors: Cristobal
authors: C
authors: Belda-Iniesta
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Hidalgo
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: López-Ríos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins