ALK pERKs up MYCN in neuroblastoma.

Sci Signal

Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Duesseldorf, 45122 Essen, Germany. Department of Translational Neuro-Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr.55, 45122 Essen, Germany. German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Centre for Medical Biotechnology, University Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany.

Published: October 2014

The gene expressing the receptor tyrosine kinase anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is mutated and aberrantly expressed in several cancers. The clinical efficacy of the ALK inhibitor, crizotinib, lags behind expectations for treating MYCN-amplified, ALK-mutant neuroblastoma, a deadly childhood cancer. In this issue of Science Signaling, Umapathy et al. identify the kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) as a central mediator that enables ALK to boost MYCN expression, and they show that inhibiting ERK5 in concert with ALK reduced neuroblastoma cell viability in vitro and in xenograft tumor models. This report has important clinical implications for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma or other tumors that overexpress MYC(N) and harbor ALK mutations, such as non-small-cell lung cancer.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.2005940DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

alk
6
alk perks
4
perks mycn
4
neuroblastoma
4
mycn neuroblastoma
4
neuroblastoma gene
4
gene expressing
4
expressing receptor
4
receptor tyrosine
4
kinase
4

Similar Publications

Aim: In case of systemic anaphylactic reactions after Hymenoptera stings, patients should be provided with an adrenaline autoinjector (AAI). We aimed to evaluate the education and handling competence of patients in a real-world setting.

Materials And Methods: Patients with Hymenoptera venom allergy presenting for the first time in our clinic with a previously prescribed emergency kit including an AAI were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire and were asked to demonstrate the AAI use with a dummy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Identification of the molecular characterization and tumor microenvironment of thoracic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors.

J Formos Med Assoc

January 2025

Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs), rare soft tissue neoplasms, are characterized by a blend of myofibroblastic proliferation and inflammatory features. While generally characterized by slow growth, IMTs can exhibit locally aggressive behavior, and in rare instances, metastasize to distant sites. This study elucidated the clinical characteristics, molecular profile, and tumor microenvironment of thoracic IMTs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Approximately 10-20% of thyroid cancers are driven by gene fusions, which activate oncogenic signaling through aberrant overexpression, ligand-independent dimerization, or loss of inhibitory motifs. We identified 13 thyroid tumors with thyroglobulin (TG) gene fusions and aimed to assess their histopathology and the fusions' oncogenic and tumorigenic properties. Of 11 cases with surgical pathology, 82% were carcinomas and 18% noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasms with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a very uncommon type of CD30-positive T-cell lymphoma, and it very rarely affects the forehead. We report the case of a 68-year-old male presenting with an ulcerative lesion on the right forehead, initially suspected as a benign condition. Fine needle aspiration suggested a lymphoproliferative disorder, with biopsy and immunohistochemistry confirming primary cutaneous ALCL (CD30-positive, anaplastic lymphoma kinase [ALK]-negative).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!