RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Combination of morphological feature analysis and immunohistochemistry is useful for screening of EML4-ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 1066
OP 1070
DO 10.1136/jcp.2010.081166
VO 63
IS 12
A1 Ryu Jokoji
A1 Takashi Yamasaki
A1 Seigo Minami
A1 Kiyoshi Komuta
A1 Yasushi Sakamaki
A1 Kengo Takeuchi
A1 Masahiko Tsujimoto
YR 2010
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/63/12/1066.abstract
AB Background A subset of lung cancers harbours the fusion gene echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like-4–anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK). Recently, immunohistochemistry for ALK has shown sensitivity for the detection of EML4-ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma almost equal to that of the fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) assay.Aims To study the clinicopathological features of EML4-ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma in a large number of surgically resected samples using immunohistochemistry, in order to establish a useful screening method for EML4-ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma.Methods Immunohistochemistry for ALK was used to screen for EML4-ALK-positive lung adenocarcinomas in 254 cases of surgically resected samples.Results EML4-ALK-positive cases were detected in 3.1% of lung adenocarcinomas (8/254). EML4-ALK-positive lung adenocarcinomas showed significant associations with intra- and/or extra-cytoplasmic mucin (p=0.0001), and cribriform pattern with excessive extracytoplasmic mucin (p<0.0001). Signet-ring cell appearance alone lacked significance (p=0.149).Conclusion EML4-ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma has a tendency to express a characteristic morphological pattern. The combined use of morphological feature analysis and immunohistochemistry may be a useful and cost effective screening method for EML4-ALK lung adenocarcinoma.