TY - JOUR
T1 - A new look at the ALK gene in cancer
T2 - copy number gain and amplification
AU - Zito Marino, Federica
AU - Rocco, Gaetano
AU - Morabito, Alessandro
AU - Mignogna, Chiara
AU - Intartaglia, Martina
AU - Liguori, Giuseppina
AU - Botti, Gerardo
PY - 2016/5/3
Y1 - 2016/5/3
N2 - To date, ALK-rearrangement is a molecular target in several cancers, i.e. NSCLC. The dramatic benefits of crizotinib have prompted research into identifying other possible patients carrying ALK gene alterations with possible clinical significance. The ALK gene is involved not only in several rearrangements but also in other alterations such as amplification. ALK-amplification (ALK-A) is a common genetic event in several cancers, generally associated with poor outcome and more aggressive behaviour. Here we review the role of ALK-A in cancer as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. Furthermore, several critical issues regarding ALK-A in relation to; methods of detection, acquired resistance and ALK second generation inhibitors are analyzed. We conclude that ALK-A could be an intriguing alteration in the context of targeted therapy.
AB - To date, ALK-rearrangement is a molecular target in several cancers, i.e. NSCLC. The dramatic benefits of crizotinib have prompted research into identifying other possible patients carrying ALK gene alterations with possible clinical significance. The ALK gene is involved not only in several rearrangements but also in other alterations such as amplification. ALK-amplification (ALK-A) is a common genetic event in several cancers, generally associated with poor outcome and more aggressive behaviour. Here we review the role of ALK-A in cancer as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. Furthermore, several critical issues regarding ALK-A in relation to; methods of detection, acquired resistance and ALK second generation inhibitors are analyzed. We conclude that ALK-A could be an intriguing alteration in the context of targeted therapy.
KW - acquired resistance
KW - ALK- inhibitors
KW - amplification
KW - Anaplastic lymphoma kinase
KW - copy number gain
KW - crizotinib
KW - fluorescence in situ hybridization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962463378&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84962463378&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1586/14737140.2016.1162098
DO - 10.1586/14737140.2016.1162098
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84962463378
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics
JF - Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics
SN - 1473-7159
ER -