TY - JOUR
TI - ALK Protein Expression Patterns in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity
AU - Chrysovergis, A.
AU - Papanikolaou, V.
AU - Mastronikolis, N.
AU - Tsiambas, E.
AU - Katsinis, S.
AU - Manoli, A.
AU - Papouliakos, S.
AU - Ragos, V.
AU - Pantos, P.
AU - Peschos, D.
AU - Mastronikolis, S.
AU - Fotiades, P.
AU - Mamoulidis, P.
AU - Spyropoulou, D.
AU - Kyrodimos, E.
JO - In vivo (Athens, Greece)
PY - 2022
VL - 36
TODO - 3
SP - 1144-1149
PB - International Institute of Anticancer Research
SN - null
TODO - 10.21873/invivo.12813
TODO - ALK protein, human;  anaplastic lymphoma kinase;  protein tyrosine kinase, genetics;  human;  mouth tumor;  pathology;  squamous cell carcinoma, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase;  Carcinoma, Squamous Cell;  Humans;  Mouth Neoplasms;  Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
TODO - Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by a broad spectrum of genomic imbalances, including gross chromosomal (polysomy/ aneuploidy) ones as well as specific gene alterations. Aberrant expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) seems to be a useful molecular marker for discriminating patients based on genetic signatures in a variety of solid malignancies, such as lung carcinoma. Our aim was to analyze ALK protein expression patterns in a series of OSCCs. Materials and Methods: Fifty (n=50) OSCC tissue sections were analyzed by implementing an ALK-based immunohistochemistry protocol. Digital image analysis was performed for measuring the corresponding protein expression levels. Results: ALK overexpression was observed in 14/50 (28%) OSCC tissue sections, whereas the rest 36/50 (72%) demonstrated low expression levels. ALK expression was negatively associated with grade (p=0.027) and stage (p=0.0028) of the examined cases. Conclusion: Abnormal ALK expression in subsets of patients with OSCC seems to be related to an aggressive phenotype (advanced stage/progressive dedifferentiation). ALK protein overexpression may be used as a significant marker for applying targeted therapeutic regimens. © 2022 International Institute of Anticancer Research. All rights reserved.
ER -