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ALK (Anaplastic Lymphocytic Kinase) Detection Kit

Catalog Number Product Name Size
NIC-417081F N-Histofine ALK Control Slides 5 Slides
NIC-417071F N-Histofine ALK Detection Kit 20 Slides

N-Histofine® ALK Detection Kit ORDERING

N-Histofine® ALK Detection Kit is an immunohistochemical kit designed for convenient, highly-sensitive, and reproducible detection of Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) proteins expressed in tumor cells present in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human tissue sections. Convenient ALK Control Slides are available separately.

Background

The ALK gene located at 2p23 encodes a receptor-type tyrosine kinase belonging to the insulin receptor family. In 1994 the t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation in anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) was shown to result in a fusion between the ALK and NPM (Nucleophosmin) genes. A kinase domain in the ALK protein intracellular region is associated with cell growth promotion and apoptosis inhibition. The proteins produced from ALK fusion genes are chronically activated by dimerization, leading to the development of cancer. Subsequent work has shown that the ALK gene forms fusions with a large number of genes. These include for ALCL: ATIC, CLTC, MSN, TPM3, TPM4, TFG, MYH9 and ALO17; and for inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT): ATIC, CARS, CLTC, DCTN1, TPM3, TPM4, PPFIBP1, RANBP2 and SEC31L1. Recently, additional ALK fusion genes have been reported, including with EML4, KIF5B and KCL1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); SEC31A and SQSTM1 in ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma; and VCL in renal cell cancer.

Advantage

Detects low level ALK fusion protein expression

Representative Results

Examples of strong and weak ALK staining

Note

This kit detects full-length ALK proteins as well as ALK fusion proteins. Tumors that infrequently express full-length ALK proteins (large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung, small-cell lung carcinomas and rhabdomyosarcomas, particularly alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas) exhibit a range of positive signals from strong to weak. This kit cannot discriminate between signals arising from full-length ALK proteins versus ALK fusion proteins. Therefore, if ALK fusion protein expression is considered likely, FISH is recommended to confirm ALK fusion gene presence or absence.

INTENDED FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY