Alterations Of ALK Genes And Protein Expression In Prostate Cancer

[Objectives]As the rearrangements of ALK gene were recently identified in NSCLC, breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma and colorectal cancer, we investigated the ALK genomic rearrangements and its expression in prostate cancer and also discussed its important clinical implication.[Methods](1)192cases of prostate cancer, from year2008to year2012, were collected continuously in the affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University.(2) FISH assay were performed on prostate cancer samples to detect ALK gene rearrangements.(3) The ALK protein expression were detected in192cases of prostate cancer by immunohistological staining of the standard two-step Envision.(4) SPSS18.0software were used for statistical analysis. Chi-square test assessed all dates. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. [Results]We found that the ALK gene was truncated in12(most5’deletion) of the192cases(6.25%), Genomic rearrangements of ALK gene were not statistically related with Gleason score, age, history of smoking, drinking or baseline PSA level (P>0.05). All the ALK protein expressed in the nucleus, but the positive cells were few and color was light. EML4-ALK fusion gene was not founded in prostate cancer.[Conclusions]Rearrangements of ALK gene occurred in prostate cancer and the presence was6.25%, which may not associated with disease progression. ALK protein expressed in the nucleus, ALK/5A4antibody was affected not very well in prostate cancer. We did not found the EML4-ALK fusion gene in prostate cancer. Our results suggested potential benefit of treating this subset of prostate cancer patients with ALK inhibitors.