J Korean Med Sci.  2012 Feb;27(2):228-230. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.2.228.

EML4-ALK Fusion Gene in Korean Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Jin G
• Jeon HS
• Lee EB
• Kang HG
• Yoo SS
• Lee SY
• Lee JH
• Cha SI
• Park TI
• Kim CH
• Jheon SH
• Park JY

• KMID: 1120166
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.2.228

Abstract

A fusion gene between echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) and the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been identified in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Although a few studies have evaluated EML4-ALK fusion genes in Korean NSCLCs, the prevalence of different EML4-ALK fusion variants has yet to be clearly assessed. Herein, we have examined the profiles of EML4-ALK fusion gene variants in Korean patients of NSCLCs. EML4-ALK fusion genes have been detected in 10 (6.0%) of 167 patients of NSCLCs and in 9 (7.4%) of 121 patients of adenocarcinoma. Of the 10 patients with fusion genes identified, 8 (80%) were E13;A20 (variant 1) and 2 (20%) were E6;A20, with an additional 33-bp sequence derived from intron 6 of EML4 (variant 3b). These results indicate that the profiles of EML4-ALK fusion gene variants in Korean patients of NSCLC may differ from those in other ethnic populations. Herein, we describe for the first time the profiles of EML4-ALK fusion variants of Korean patients with NSCLCs.

Keyword

ALK; EML4; Carcinoma; Non-Small-Cell Lung

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis/genetics
Aged
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics
Base Sequence
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnosis/*genetics
Exons
Female
Humans
Introns
Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis/*genetics
Male
Middle Aged
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/chemistry/*genetics
Republic of Korea
Sequence Analysis, RNA
Smoking

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Detection of EML4-4LK fusion genes by RT-PCR and sequencing. RT-PCR results of 10 positive cases with EML4-ALK fusion genes (A). Necleotide sequencing of the PCR products of variant 1 (B) and variant 3b (C).

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