21 research outputs found
Performance comparison of the Vysis automated versus manual ALK gene rearrangement assays on archived FFPE and cytology specimens.
C-kit mRNA expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and matched stromal tissue: Prognostic and therapeutic implications
C-kit mRNA expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and matched stromal tissue: Prognostic and therapeutic implications.
C-MET mRNA expression in pancreatic ductal adetiocarchaturia and stromal tissue: Prognostic and therapeutic implications
C-MET mRNA expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and stromal tissue: Prognostic and therapeutic implications.
mRNA expression levels of candidate genes and clinical outcome in mCRC patients treated with FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab (bev) or FOLFIRI plus bev in the TRIBE study.
Correlation of messenger RNA expression patterns of ERCC1, TS, EGFR, and VEGFR2 with KRAS and BRAF mutational status in advanced colorectal cancer: Implications for targeted therapies.
Large-Scale Screening and Molecular Characterization of EML4-ALK Fusion Variants in Archival Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Specimens Using Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays
Introduction: The objective of this study was to identify and characterize echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion (EML4-ALK+) cancers by variant-specific, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays in a large cohort of North American non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: We developed a panel of single and multiplex RT-PCR assays suitable for rapid and accurate detection of the eight most common EML4-ALK+ variants and ALK gene expression in archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NSCLC specimens. EGFR and KRAS genotyping and thymidylate synthase RNA level by RT-PCR assays were available in a subset of patients. Results: Between December 2009 and September 2012, 7344 NSCLC specimens were tested. An EML4-ALK+ transcript was detected in 200 cases (2.7%), including 109 V1 (54.5%), 20 V2 (10.0%), 68 V3 (34.0%), and three V5a (1.5%) variants. Median age was 54.5 years (range, 23-89), and 104 patients (52.0%) were women. The great majority (n=188, 94.0%) of EML4-ALK+ NSCLC tumors had adenocarcinoma histology. ALK expression level varied significantly among different EML4-ALK+ variants and individual tumors. Only one case each of concurrent EGFR or KRAS mutation was detected. The median thymidylate synthase RNA level from 85 EML4-ALK+ cancers was significantly lower compared with that of EML4-ALK-negative lung adenocarcinomas (2.02 versus 3.29, respectively, p<0.001). Conclusions: This panel of variant-specific, quantitative RT-PCR assays detects common EML4-ALK+ variants as well as ALK gene expression level in archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded NSCLC specimens. These RT-PCR assays may be useful as an adjunct to the standard fluorescence in situ hybridization assay to better understand biologic variability and response patterns to anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors