Detection of ALK gene rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Objective To detect anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Methods According to ALK gene rearrangement manners, dual-color (Red/Green) fluorescence probes were designed and labeled. Specificity and sensitivity were evaluated in peripheral blood metaphase of lymphocyte cells. Test performances were evaluated in NSCLC paraffin tissue samples by FISH and immunohistochemistry. Results Both specificity and sensitivity reached 100% in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed human lymphocyte cells. The established FISH method detected one ALK gene rearrangement case among two NSCLC samples successfully. The results of FISH were consistent with the results of immunohistochemistry. Conclusion The dual-color probe designed in this study can be used for ALK gene rearrangement testing in NSCLC. Key words: Carcinoma, non-small-cell lung; In situ hybridization, fluorescence; ALK gene rea-rrangement