Overview:

ALK or CD246 is a receptor tyrosine kinase, which belongs to the insulin receptor superfamily. CD246 plays an important role in the development of the brain and exerts its effects on specific neurons in the nervous system. ALK-positive neoplasms represent a distinct entity because the morphology of the tumors is often neither anaplastic nor large cell and the tumors should be referred to as ALK lymphomas (1). CD246 has been found to be rearranged, mutated, or amplified in a series of tumours including anaplastic large cell lymphomas, neuroblastoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. CD246 act as a driver of inflammation. TPM1-ALK has been identified in the patients with peritoneal mesotheliomas (2).

Gene Aliases:

TPM1: C15orf13; CMD1Y; CMH3; HEL-S-265; HTM-alpha; LVNC9; TMSA;
ALK: ALK (Ki-1), CD246

Genbank Number:

NM_001018005
NM_004304

References:

1. Benharroch, D.et.al: ALK-positive lymphoma: a single disease with a broad spectrum of morphology. Blood 91: 2076-2084, 1998.

2. Hung YP. et al: Identification of ALK Rearrangements in Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma. JAMA Oncology. 2018 Feb 1; 4(2): 235-238.