ALK protein expression in pulmonary adenocarcinoma of Tunisian patients

J Immunoassay Immunochem. 2017;38(4):411-419. doi: 10.1080/15321819.2017.1319860. Epub 2017 Apr 19.

Abstract

Background: It is now necessary to determine ALK status in order to use targeted therapy.

Aim: herein, we assess immunohistochemical profile of ALK protein in a series of Tunisian patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Materials and methods: ALK protein expression was studied applying the D5F3 antibody with a fully automated Ventana CDx technique on a series of 19 patients.

Results: Positive ALK expression was found in one case (5.2%) corresponding to a papillary adenocarcinoma which showed a strong granular and homogenous cytoplasmic staining. The patient was a 30-years-old woman.

Conclusion: The frequency of positive ALK expression based on immunohistochemistry in our series was similar to that reported in the world literature.

Keywords: ALK expression; ALK rearrangements; D5F3 antibody; immunohistochemistry; pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / analysis*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • Tunisia

Substances

  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases