Standard protocol of ALK fusion gene assessment by fluorescent in situ hybridization in non-small cell lung cancer / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the standard protocol for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene assessment by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tissue specimens of NSCLC cases were retrospectively collected from Jan. 2011 to July 2012. ALK fusion gene was examined by FISH using break-apart ALK gene probes (Vysis company). The identification of ALK fusion gene was determined by fluorescent signals under a fluorescence microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and forty-six eligible NSCLC tumor specimens were tested for ALK fusion gene by FISH. The specimens included 110 cases (75.4%) of surgically-removed tissues, 11 cases (7.5%) of biopsy, 19 cases (13.0%) of lymph node and 6 cases (4.1%) of other metastatic tissues. The positivity of ALK fusion gene was 8.9% (13/146).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The assessment of ALK fusing gene by FISH using standard protocol for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is feasible. The protocol can used to test in surgically-removed tissues, biopsies, metastatic lymph nodes and other metastastic specimens.</p>