[Detection of EML4-ALK fusion gene in non-small cell lung cancer and its clinicopathologic correlation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of EML4-ALK fusion gene in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and its correlation with clinicopathologic features.


METHODS
Real-time PCR was used to detect the presence of EML4-ALK fusion gene in 268 cases of NSCLCs using paraffin-embedded tissue samples(among which 164 samples were re-validated by Sanger sequencing). Related clinicopathological correlation was analyzed.


RESULTS
EML4-ALK fusion gene was found in 4.1% (11/268) of the cases. One hundred and sixty four samples were verified by Sanger sequencing, and the overall coincidence of the results of two methods (Sanger sequencing and Real-time PCR) was 100%. Female patients (5.9%, 5/85), ≤ 60 years of age (4.3%, 6/140), non-smokers (6.8%, 8/118) and adenocarcinomas (7.6%, 10/132) had a higher mutation rate than that in male patients (3.3%, 6/183), > 60 years of age (4.0%, 5/124), smokers (1.6%, 2/132) and squamous cell carcinomas (1.3%, 1/79), although no statistical significance in age (P = 0.918), gender (P = 0.503), smoking history (P = 0.092) and histological type (P = 0.094).


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese NSCLC patients have a 4.1% detection rate of EML4-ALK fusion gene in the tumor tissues. Female, non-smoker and adenocarcinoma histological subtype tend to be associated with a higher rate of EML4-ALK gene fusion.
Department of Pathology, First Hospital of Xiamen, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China.
Shan
S
Zhong
Hai-ping
HP
Zhang
Jie
J
Zheng
Dong-yu
DY
Bai
Li
L
Fu
Pei-qiong
PQ
Chen
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D055815:Young Adult
C522504:EML4-ALK fusion protein, human; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion