ALK protein expression in pulmonary adenocarcinoma of Tunisian patients

ABSTRACT

Background. It is now necessary to determine ALK status in order to use targeted therapy. Aim: herein, we assess immunohistochemical profile of ALK protein in a series of Tunisian patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Materials and Methods. ALK protein expression was studied applying the D5F3 antibody with a fully automated Ventana CDx technique on a series of 19 patients.

Results. Positive ALK expression was found in one case (5.2%) corresponding to a papillary adenocarcinoma which showed a strong granular and homogenous cytoplasmic staining. The patient was a 30-years-old woman.

Conclusion. The frequency of positive ALK expression based on immunohistochemistry in our series was similar to that reported in the world literature.

KEYWORDS:

• pulmonary adenocarcinoma
• ALK expression
• D5F3 antibody
• immunohistochemistry
• ALK rearrangements

Acknowledgment

Ethical standards were respected in this study. No personal patient information was used.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Public Health of Tunisia.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Public Health of Tunisia.