Volume : IV, Issue : VIII, August - 2015

Immunohistochemical Evaluation Of ALK Expression In Breast Cancer

Amira M. Bassam, Lubna O. Abdel Ndash Salam, Dina A. Khairy

Abstract :

Extensive studies are conducted to identify factors involved in east cancer genesis and to understand the genetic and cellular mechanisms which can lead us to new treatments. ALK was originally discovered as the underlying factor in the pathogenesis of anaplastic large cell lymphomas. ALK is believed to foster tumor genesis following activation by autocrine and/ or paracrine growth loops involving ALK ligands. Expression of ALK has been shown in a variety of tumors including rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma and neuroectodermal tumor, glioblastoma, melanoma and inflammatory east cancer. 61 cases of female east cancer were evaluated immunohistochemically for the expression of ALK in the malignant epithelial cells and adjacent non–neoplastic tissue, and for correlation of expression with clinicopathological parameters as; age, tumor size, tumor type, tumor grade, tumor stage, lymph node status, dermal lympho–vascular embolization, degree of lymphocytic infiltration and ER, PR, Her–2 neu expression and molecular types. Eighteen cases out of 61 (29.5% of all cases) showed positive cytoplasmic expression for ALK in malignant epithelium. 8 positive cases showed concomitant cytoplasmic and nuclear immunoreactivity. ALK expression was observed in normal structures as east epithelium, lymphocytes, nerves and fioblasts. Expression in normal east epithelium was localized to the nucleus without cytoplasmic localization. The current study found non–significant correlation between malignant epithelial ALK expression and various clinicopathological parameters, ER, PR, Her–2 neu expression and molecular types. However the correlation between ALK expression and histological type was close to significance (0.08), implying slight higher tendency for ALK expression among ductal carcinoma whether in pure or mixed forms. The issue of involvement of ALK in pathogenesis and progression of east cancer needs thorough evaluation, especially by molecular techniques. Up till now no established link has been detected in east cancer various types including inflammatory east carcinoma. The availability of anti–ALK protein drugs however encourages further studies to enroll patients into clinical trials evaluating ALK targeted therapeutics.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

Amira M. Bassam, Lubna O. Abdel–Salam, Dina A. Khairy Immunohistochemical Evaluation of ALK Expression in Breast Cancer International Journal of Scientific Research, Vol : 4, Issue : 8 August 2015

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