Detection of new fusion partner genes with ALK gene

我们使用手术切除的肺癌标本分析了ALK基因与EML4或其他未知基因之间的融合基因。为检测这些与ALK基因相关的融合基因提供了简便有效的筛选方法。我们建立了一种检测ALK融合基因的荧光免疫组织化学（FISH）方法，在ALK基因头部放置一个红色探针，在ALK基因外显子20上放置一个绿色探针，当ALK融合基因存在时，它们彼此发光分开。由于ALK融合基因在肺癌人群中的发生率较低（在切除病例中的发生率低于5%），我们建立了ALK融合基因检测算法。在该算法中，选择腺泡显性腺癌、无表皮生长因子受体基因突变、从不吸烟或轻度吸烟（20包年或以下）的患者作为ALK融合基因检测的候选对象。应用该算法，ALK融合基因阳性的预测概率增加到约25%。

We analyzed fusion gene(s) between ALK gene and EML4 or other unknown genes using surgically resectedlung cancer specimens. And easy and effective screening method for detecting these fusion genes related to ALK gene. We have established a fluorescent immunohistochemistry (FISH) method detecting ALK fusion genes easily to place a red probe in the head of ALK gene and a green probe in the exon 20 of ALK gene, which become luminescent apart each other when the ALK fusion gene exists. Because of low incidence of ALK fusion gene in lung cancer population (under 5% of resected cases), we have established an algorithm for ALK fusion gene detection. In the algorithm, tumors those are acinar predominant adenocarcinoma, without epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations, and of patients who are never or light smokers (20 pack-year or lower) are selected for candidates of ALK fusion gene detection. To apply the algorithm, pretest probability of positive ALK fusion genes increases up to approximately 25%.