Abstract
Lung cancer carcinogenesis is increasingly related to genetic disorders that lead to the use of specific targeted therapies which improve clinical outcome and survival. Gene fusion is one of the mechanisms of lung cancer pathogenesis besides gene mutation. The oncogenic echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) fusion gene was the first described in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and it’s the most frequent ALK rearrangement which occurs in approximately 5% of NSCLC. The development of sequencing technology has allowed the discovery of other ALK partners that cause an ALK fusion in NSCLC. They are still less known, however. The aim of this review is to report the novel ALK fusions in NSCLC described in the literature and their particular characteristics. We will present the kinesin family member 5B (KIF5B) - ALK fusion, the huntingtin interacting protein 1 (HIP 1)- ALK fusion, and other uncommon ALK fusions.
Highlights
Nowadays, advanced researches in genetic abnormalities and targeted therapies have modified the strategy of cancer care worldwide
The oncogenic echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)) fusion gene was the first described in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and it’s the most frequent ALK rearrangement, which occurs in approximately 5% of NSCLC
The development of sequencing technology has allowed the discovery of other ALK partners that cause an ALK fusion in NSCLC
Summary
Nowadays, advanced researches in genetic abnormalities and targeted therapies have modified the strategy of cancer care worldwide. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusion positive in lung cancer is an example for personalized medicine in a subset of patients It was first recognized in 2007 by the discovery of the oncogenic echinoderm microtubuleassociated protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK fusion gene in approximately 5% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases [1]. The small number of cases reported doesn’t allow concluding on specific clinical features for KIF5B-ALK rearrangement in NSCLC It could occur in both men and women, two cases of three had a smoking history, two were stage IA and one was stage IV [4,5,7]. AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS All the authors have actively participated in the redaction, the revision of the manuscript and provided approval for this final revised version
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