Premium
Identification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusions in renal cancer
Author(s) -
Sugawara Emiko,
Togashi Yuki,
Kuroda Naoto,
Sakata Seiji,
Hatano Satoko,
Asaka Reimi,
Yuasa Takeshi,
Yonese Junji,
Kitagawa Masanobu,
Mano Hiroyuki,
Ishikawa Yuichi,
Takeuchi Kengo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.27391
Subject(s) - anaplastic lymphoma kinase , chromophobe cell , pathology , medicine , clear cell , anaplastic large cell lymphoma , cancer research , cancer , immunohistochemistry , fluorescence in situ hybridization , renal cell carcinoma , clear cell renal cell carcinoma , targeted therapy , lymphoma , lung cancer , biology , biochemistry , gene , malignant pleural effusion , chromosome
BACKGROUND: Several promising molecular‐targeted drugs are used for advanced renal cancers. However, complete remission is rarely achieved, because none of the drugs targets a key molecule that is specific to the cancer, or is associated with “oncogene addiction” (dependence on one or a few oncogenes for cell survival) of renal cancer. Recently, an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion, vinculin‐ALK, has been reported in pediatric renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cases who have a history of sickle cell trait. In this context, ALK inhibitor therapy would constitute a therapeutic advance, as has previously been demonstrated with lung cancer, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors, and anaplastic large cell lymphomas. METHODS: Anti‐ALK immunohistochemistry was used to screen 355 tumor tissues, using the intercalated antibody‐enhanced polymer (iAEP) method. The cohort consisted of 255 clear cell RCCs, 32 papillary RCCs, 34 chromophobe RCCs, 6 collecting duct carcinomas, 10 unclassified RCCs, 6 sarcomatoid RCCs, and 12 other tumors. RESULTS: Two patients (36‐ and 53‐year‐old females) were positive for ALK as determined by iAEP immunohistochemistry. Using 5′‐ rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends, we detected TPM3‐ALK and EML4‐ALK in these tumors. The results of this study were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization assays. The 2 ALK‐positive RCCs were unclassified (mixed features of papillary, mucinous cribriform, and solid patterns with rhabdoid cells) and papillary subtype. They comprised 2.3% of non–clear cell RCCs (2 of 88) and 3.7% of non–clear cell and nonchromophobe RCCs (2 of 54). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that ALK fusions also exist in adult RCC cases without uncommon backgrounds. These findings confirm the potential of ALK inhibitor therapy for selected cases of RCC. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.