Guideline Recommendations for Testing of ALK Gene Rearrangement in Lung Cancer: A Proposal of the Korean Cardiopulmonary Pathology Study Group

• Published in: Journal of pathology and translational medicine Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyojin, Shim, Hyo Sup, Kim, Lucia, Kim, Tae-Jung, Kwon, Kun Young, Lee, Geon Kook, Chung, Jin-Haeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society of Pathologists, Korean Society for Cytopathology 01.02.2014; The Korean Society of Pathologists and The Korean Society for Cytopathology; 대한병리학회
• Subjects: Age; Biopsy; Cellular biology; Lung cancer; Mutation; Ostomy; Pathology; Proteins; Quality control; Review; Studies; Ultrasonic imaging; 병리학; Guideline; Anaplastic lymphoma kinase; Gene rearrangement; Lung neoplasms
• ISSN: 1738-1843; 2383-7837; 2092-8920; 2383-7845
• DOI: 10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2014.48.1.1

Rearrangement of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene is the best predictor of response to crizotinib, an ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, the prevalence of the ALK fusion is low, so accurate patient identification is crucial for successful treatment using ALK inhibitors. Furthermore, most patients with lung cancer present with advanced-stage disease at the time of diagnosis, so it is important for pathologists to detect ALK-rearranged patients while effectively maximizing small biopsy or cytology specimens. In this review, we propose a guideline recommendation for ALK testing approved by the Cardiopulmonary Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists.