Variant ALK-fusion positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL): A population-based paediatric study of the NHL-BFM study group

Br J Haematol. 2024 May;204(5):1894-1898. doi: 10.1111/bjh.19308. Epub 2024 Jan 26.

Abstract

Frequency, distribution and prognostic meaning of ALK-partner genes other than NPM1 in ALK-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) are unknown. Forty-nine of 316 ALCL diagnosed in the NHL-BFM study group showed no nuclear ALK expression suggestive of a variant ALK-partner; 41 were analysed by genomic capture high-throughput sequencing or specific RT-PCRs. NPM1::ALK was detected in 13 cases. Among the 28 patients with a non-NPM1::ALK-fusion partner, ATIC (n = 8; 29%) and TPM3 (n = 9; 32%) were the most common. Five of eight patients with ATIC::ALK-positive ALCL relapsed, none of nine with TPM3::ALK. Variant ALK-partners are rare and potentially associated with different prognoses.

Keywords: ALK positive ALCL; non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma; variant ALK.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase* / analysis
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase* / genetics
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic* / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic* / pathology
  • Male
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Nucleophosmin*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Tropomyosin

Substances

  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Nucleophosmin
  • ALK protein, human
  • NPM1 protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • TPM3 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Tropomyosin