Abstract

Purpose to objective: To establish the frequency of ALK translocation in lung cancer (adenocarcinomas) at Turkish adenocarcinoma patients level.

Experimental design and methods: Between 2011- 2013, 157 paraffin embedded tumour tissues have been performed by our hospitals. 40 patients chosen from this group were also scanned for EGFR mutations. FISH technique is performed to paraffin embedded tissues were cut 4 micron thick. Vysis ALK Break apart FISH probe kit is used to detect rearrangement of ALK gene. 157 adenocarcinoma tumor tissue were analyzed. In 20 patients (12.7%) were found positive for ALK rearrangements. In our study ALK-positive and-negative patients, there is a difference between the 5.69 percent years. The results of ALK-positive patients compared to negative patients as a result showed that this group are younger patients.

Conclusion: In summary, our study is the first study to investigate the ALK status in lung cancer in Turkish patients. Lung adenocarcinoma patients with ALK translocation, which has been reported to be younger age than carrying wild-type allele. According to result ALK breaks observed more frequently in patients at an early age. FISH analysis is the standard method for detecting ALK rearrangements. ALK gene rearrangements in patients with lung cancer, recent studies conducted on personalized treatment increases the success was observed. ALK gene rearrengements by FISH analysis has a leading role to Crizotinib treatment. Thus, wild type EGFR gene results and ALK gene rearrangements positive patients is related to increased survival after crizotinib treatment. Further studies about ALK gene is important to get more efficient cure result and figure out the molecular mechanism and structure

Keywords: ALK; Lung adenocarcinoma; Crizotinib; EGFR; Fluorescent in situ hybridization