title: [ALK-Diagnostics in NSCLC - Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or Fluorescence-in-situ Hybridisation (FISH)].
abstract: The EML4-ALK pathway plays an important role in a significant subset of non-small cell lung cancer patients. Treatment options such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors directed against the EML4-ALK signalling pathway lead to improved progression free and overall survival. These therapeutic options are chosen on the basis of the identification of the underlying genetic signature of the EML-ALK translocation. Efficient and easily accessible testing tools are required to identify the patients in time. While FISH techniques have been implemented to characterize this translocation for some time, the implementation of this testing is hampered by its broad use of resources. Immunohistochemical techniques to identify and screen for EML4-ALK translocations may play an important role in the near future. This consensus paper offers recommendations of the sequence and quality of the respective test approaches which are validated on the basis of the current literature.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Laffert
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schirmacher
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warth
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie der Technischen Universität München.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weichert
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Uniklinik Köln.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.affiliation: Sektion Pneumologie Innenstadt und Thorakale Onkologie, Klinikum der Universität München und Lungentumorzentrum München.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Klinik I für Innere Medizin, Uniklinik Köln.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Universitätsklinik Innere Medizin-Onkologie, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Griesinger
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dietel
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Pneumologie, Evangelische Lungenklinik Berlin.
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Grohé
mesh_terms: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases