Background. ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) gene rearrangement is a novel oncogenic driver in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) against which a selective inhibitor, namely crizotinib, is effective. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is considered the reference method in selecting patients with ALK-positive tumors for treatment with crizotinib. Case report. We report the case of a 42-year-old non-smoking woman with an advanced pulmonary ALK FISH-negative adenocarcinoma characterized by strong immunohistochemical expression of ALK fusion protein. The patient received targeted therapy with crizotinib in compassionate use and experienced a long-lasting clinical response. Conclusion. FISH testing should not be considered the only method to select patients for therapy with ALK inhibitors and the use of multiple ALK-detecting techniques could be helpful in screening ALK-positive patients more appropriately.
Fishing for ALK with immunohistochemistry may predict response to crizotinib / Bavieri, M.; Tiseo, M.; Lantuejoul, S.; McLeer-Florin, A.; Lasagni, A.; Fantini, R.; Rossi, G.. - In: TUMORI. - ISSN 0300-8916. - 99:5(2013), pp. e229-e232. [10.1700/1377.15321]
Fishing for ALK with immunohistochemistry may predict response to crizotinib
Tiseo M.;
2013-01-01
Abstract
Background. ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) gene rearrangement is a novel oncogenic driver in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) against which a selective inhibitor, namely crizotinib, is effective. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is considered the reference method in selecting patients with ALK-positive tumors for treatment with crizotinib. Case report. We report the case of a 42-year-old non-smoking woman with an advanced pulmonary ALK FISH-negative adenocarcinoma characterized by strong immunohistochemical expression of ALK fusion protein. The patient received targeted therapy with crizotinib in compassionate use and experienced a long-lasting clinical response. Conclusion. FISH testing should not be considered the only method to select patients for therapy with ALK inhibitors and the use of multiple ALK-detecting techniques could be helpful in screening ALK-positive patients more appropriately.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
