A Review on Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Rearrangements and Mutations: Implications for Gastric Carcinogenesis and Target Therapy

• Published in: Current protein & peptide science Vol. 25; no. 7; p. 539
• Main Authors: Mesquita, Felipe Pantoja, Lima, Luina Benevides, da Silva, Emerson Lucena, Souza, Pedro Filho Noronha, de Moraes, Maria Elisabete Amaral, Burbano, Rommel Mario Rodrigues, Montenegro, Raquel Carvalho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - drug therapy; Adenocarcinoma - genetics; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase - antagonists & inhibitors; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase - genetics; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Gene Rearrangement; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy - methods; Mutation; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Signal Transduction; Stomach Neoplasms - drug therapy; Stomach Neoplasms - genetics; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; ALK; targeted therapy; Gastric carcinogenesis; gastric cancer; biomarker; gene fusion
• ISSN: 1875-5550
• DOI: 10.2174/0113892037291318240130103348

Gastric adenocarcinoma is a complex disease with diverse genetic modifications, including Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) gene changes. The ALK gene is located on chromosome 2p23 and encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a crucial role in embryonic development and cellular differentiation. ALK alterations can result from gene fusion, mutation, amplification, or overexpression in gastric adenocarcinoma. Fusion occurs when the ALK gene fuses with another gene, resulting in a chimeric protein with constitutive kinase activity and promoting oncogenesis. ALK mutations are less common but can also result in the activation of ALK signaling pathways. Targeted therapies for ALK variations in gastric adenocarcinoma have been developed, including ALK inhibitors that have shown promising results in pre-clinical studies. Future studies are needed to elucidate the ALK role in gastric cancer and to identify predictive biomarkers to improve patient selection for targeted therapy. Overall, ALK alterations are a relevant biomarker for gastric adenocarcinoma treatment and targeted therapies for ALK may improve patients' overall survival.