RUO - ALK Break

Translocations of the ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) gene at 2p23 have originally been associated with anaplastic lymphomas, B-cell lymphomas, neuroblastomas and myofibroblastic tumors. At least 21 translocation partners have been described, however 80% of the translocations involves the NPM1 gene (5q35). ALK rearrangements have been described in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. Multiple tyrosine kinsae inhibitors (TKI's) specific for ALK have since been approved for first line treatment of NSCLC-patients carrying the fusion gene ALK-EML4. These ALK inhibitors include crizotinib (Xalkori), alectinib (Alecensa) and ceritinib (Zykadia). The ALK (2p23) Break probe is optimized to detect translocations involving the ALK gene region at 2p23.

References:
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Kwak et al, J Clin Oncol., 27(26):4247-53.
Koivunen et al, Clin Cancer Res, 2008, 14, 4275-4283.