digital-pathology-2016_scientifictracks-abstracts

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Digital Pathology & Pathologists 2016
December 05-06, 2016
Volume 6 Issue 5(Suppl) J Clin Exp Pathol
ISSN: 2161-0681 JCEP, an open access journal
conferenceseries .com
December 05-06, 2016 Madrid, Spain
9th World Digital Pathology & Pathologists Congress
Notes:
K H Ramesh, J Clin Exp Pathol 2016, 6:5(Suppl)
An analysis of ALK polysomy detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in non-small
cell lung cancer patients at montefiore medical center
K H Ramesh, PhD, ABMGG, FACMGG
Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx, New York, USA
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for up to 80% of all lung cancers with an overall 5 year survival rate of about
10 to 15%. It is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide; and is responsible for 27% and 19.4% cancer deaths
in the US and worldwide respectively. EGFR, KRAS, BRAF and ALK-EML4 anomalies are some of the driver mutations that
have treatment and prognostic implications in NSCLC. The ALK-EML4 rearrangement has been identified in about 3 to 5%
of NSCLC, with the large majority in adenocarcinoma and young patients who were light or nonsmokers. Recent studies have
shown that lung cancers harboring the ALK-EML4 rearrangement are resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine
kinase inhibitors, but may be highly sensitive to ALK inhibitors, such as Crizotinib (Xalkori).
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) analysis using the ALK DNA probe to determine if the tumor cells have the
EML4-ALK rearrangement plays a vital role in establishing a rapid cytogenetic diagnosis. It is also helpful in monitoring the
progression of the disease after treatment. However, a majority (>90%) of the patients with NSCLC show polysomy (multiple
copies) of the ALK gene without the rearrangement. Little is known about the behavior of tumors showing polysomy, and the
disease progression in patients with such tumors. At Montefiore we have been offering FISH testing (FDA approved) for ALK
rearrangement since 2011.
The aim of our study was to assess the survival difference in NSCLC patients without a history of tobacco use with ALK
polysomy or the fusion oncogene. Using the Clinical Looking Glass database at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, we
retrospectively identified four cases of ALK-EML4 gene rearrangement and 108 cases of ALK polysomy by FISH analysis from
2011-2014. Amongst the two groups, there were no significant differences in age (p=0.47) and there was a higher percentage
of female patients in the rearrangement group than in the polysomy group (3/4 Vs.54/54). Using log-rank statistical analysis,
there were no significant differences in survival from the date of NSCLC diagnosis between the polysomy and rearrangement
groups (p=0.37).
In conclusion, the lack of statistical significance in survival between the two groups may suggest that the oncogenicity of
polysomy of ALK and the ALK-EML4 gene rearrangement in NSCLC patients works by similar mechanisms. However, the
small sample size and single center study preclude any definitive conclusions in the survival differences. With clear knowledge
of mortality in the two groups with a larger cohort of patients, molecular targets can be identified or the formulation of drugs
that can prolong survival. As of 2016 we have added another 65 cases to the cohort of 112 cases, and are analyzing the extended
data to determine if our conclusion will differ or remain the same.
Biography
K H Ramesh a native of Bangalore, and an alumnus of Bangalore University & Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, obtained his Doctoral Degree in Human
Cancer Cytogenetics under the guidance of Professors M Krishna Bhargava, MD and B. N. Chowdaiah, Ph.D. He moved to the US in 1986 and completed his
Clinical Cytogenetics training under the guidance of world renowned geneticist Avery Sandberg, MD at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY. At present he
is the Director of Cancer CytoGenomics and Associate Professor of Pathology at Montefiore Medical Center & Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. He
is also Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a Board Certified Clinical Cytogeneticist and a Diplomate of
the American Board of Medical Genetics & Genomics, and Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics & Genomics. His expertise is in genetic testing of
leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and soft and solid tumors. His interests include global education, football, and music.