Anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusions: Roles in cancer and therapeutic perspectives (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Zhifa Cao
    • Qian Gao
    • Meixian Fu
    • Nan Ni
    • Yuting Pei
    • Wen‑Bin Ou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 20, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9856
  • Pages: 2020-2030
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Abstract

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) serves a crucial role in brain development. ALK is located on the short arm of chromosome 2 (2p23) and exchange of chromosomal segments with other genes, including nucleophosmin (NPM), echinoderm microtubule‑associated protein‑like 4 (EML4) and Trk‑fused gene (TFG), readily occurs. Such chromosomal translocation results in the formation of chimeric X‑ALK fusion oncoproteins, which possess potential oncogenic functions due to constitutive activation of ALK kinase. These proteins contribute to the pathogenesis of various hematological malignancies and solid tumors, including lymphoma, lung cancer, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs), Spitz tumors, renal carcinoma, thyroid cancer, digestive tract cancer, breast cancer, leukemia and ovarian carcinoma. Targeting of ALK fusion oncoproteins exclusively, or in combination with ALK kinase inhibitors including crizotinib, is the most common therapeutic strategy. As is often the case for small‑molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), drug resistance eventually develops via an adaptive secondary mutation in the ALK fusion oncogene, or through engagement of alternative signaling mechanisms. The updated mechanisms of a variety of ALK fusions in tumorigenesis, proliferation and metastasis, in addition to targeted therapies are discussed below.
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February-2019
Volume 17 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Cao Z, Gao Q, Fu M, Ni N, Pei Y and Ou WB: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusions: Roles in cancer and therapeutic perspectives (Review). Oncol Lett 17: 2020-2030, 2019
APA
Cao, Z., Gao, Q., Fu, M., Ni, N., Pei, Y., & Ou, W. (2019). Anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusions: Roles in cancer and therapeutic perspectives (Review). Oncology Letters, 17, 2020-2030. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9856
MLA
Cao, Z., Gao, Q., Fu, M., Ni, N., Pei, Y., Ou, W."Anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusions: Roles in cancer and therapeutic perspectives (Review)". Oncology Letters 17.2 (2019): 2020-2030.
Chicago
Cao, Z., Gao, Q., Fu, M., Ni, N., Pei, Y., Ou, W."Anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusions: Roles in cancer and therapeutic perspectives (Review)". Oncology Letters 17, no. 2 (2019): 2020-2030. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9856