1. ALK-Testing in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or fluorescence in-situ Hybridisation (FISH)?
- Author
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Ch. Grohé, Arne Warth, Frank Griesinger, Reinhard Büttner, Peter Schirmacher, R. M. Huber, Wilko Weichert, Juergen Wolf, Manfred Dietel, and M. von Laffert
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine ,Cancer Research ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Cancer ,non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ,medicine.disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,0302 clinical medicine ,Oncology ,Test algorithm ,hemic and lymphatic diseases ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Thoracic Oncology ,In situ hybridisation ,medicine ,Immunohistochemistry ,%22">Fish ,Progression-free survival ,business - Abstract
The EML4-ALK pathway plays an important role in a significant subset of non-small cell lung cancer patients. Treatment options such as ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors lead to improved progression free survival and overall survival. These therapeutic options are chosen on the basis of the identification of the underlying genetic signature of the EML-ALK translocation. Efficient and easily accessible testing tools are required to identify eligible patients in a timely fashion. While FISH techniques are commonly used to detect this translocation, the broad implementation of this type of ALK testing into routine diagnostics is not optimal due to technical, structural and financial reasons. Immunohistochemical techniques to screen for EML4-ALK translocations may therefore play an important role in the near future. This consensus paper provides recommendations for the test algorithm and quality of the respective test approaches, which are discussed in the light of the current literature.
- Published
- 2017
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