Strong ALK and PD-L1 positive IHC expression related ALK amplification in an advanced lung sarcomatoid carcinoma: A therapeutic trap?

We demonstrated that IHC positive test, in these cases, must be interpreted with caution. FISH analysis has to be recommended to confirm IHC results in case of unusual phenotype, such as smoker or lung cancer other than adenocarcinoma. Although lung carcinoma with ALK rearrangement seems to be not sensitive to ICI, further investigations should be conducted on other types of ALK molecular alterations. ALK amplifications, as observed in the present case, should not be an impediment to taking into account the PD-L1 marking for the initiation of treatment by immunotherapy. READ ARTICLE

Lung Cancer DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2020.12.022.

Authors: Gendarme S, Matton L, Antoine M, Kerrou K, Ruppert AM, Epaud C, Cadranel J, Fallet V.

Case StudyKirk SmithFebruary 15, 2021ALK, Amplification, Immunotherapy, Lung cancer, Sarcomatoid

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of bone harboring an ALK gene amplification

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a neoplastic proliferation of myofibroblastic/fibroblastic cells with a variable admixture of inflammatory cells. It primarily affects soft tissue and viscera of children and young adults. IMT occurring in bone is extremely rare. Approximately 50% of IMTs carry a clonal rearrangement of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, while other receptor tyrosine kinase gene rearrangements have been seen in a small subset of IMT. Herein, we report the first case of IMT which harbors an ALK gene amplification rather than a rearrangement thus resulting in overexpression of the protein, arising from the femur of a 24-year-old man. Our case provides a novel pathogenesis for IMT. An overview of cytogenetic abnormalities of IMT is also integrated into this report. READ ARTICLE

Pathology - Research and Practice DOI:10.1016/j.prp.2019.152535

Authors: Kai Wang, Rongjun Guo, Gene P. Siegal, Shi Wei

Case StudyKirk SmithSeptember 1, 2019Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), Gene, Amplification, Rearrangement, bone