Status of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) in malignant mesothelioma.
BACKGROUND
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a particularly aggressive type of primary tumor, associated with exposure to asbestos, and characterized by high mortality. To date, there is no curative therapy for MM. The receptor anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) was found to be mutated in many cases of cancer and used as a target in biological therapies. We investigated whether this pharmacological treatment could also be applicable to MM.


METHODS
The state of ALK was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization in 63 MM tissue specimens.


RESULTS
None of the 63 MM samples showed overexpression or translocation of ALK.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary data exclude the utility of analysis of the ALK gene in MM and suggest that ALK inhibitor therapy is not applicable to MM.
Division of Histopathology and Cytopathology, PO Sant'Andrea ASL5., Via Mario Asso n. 2. 19124 La Spezia, Italy. silvio.roncella@asl5.liguria.it.
Serena
S
Varesano
Claudio
C
Leo
Simona
S
Boccardo
Sandra
S
Salvi
Mauro
M
Truini
Paola
P
Ferro
Franco
F
Fedeli
Pier Aldo
PA
Canessa
Paolo
P
Dessanti
Maria Pia
MP
Pistillo
Silvio
S
Roncella
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase; crizotinib; fluorescent in situ hybridization; immunohistochemistry; malignant mesothelioma; targeted therapy