Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
03:36
Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 12, 2024
856
ALK-Positive Squamous Cell Carcinoma Dramatically Responded to Alectinib.
Ray Sagawa1, Takehiko Ohba1, Eisaku Ito2
1Department of Pulmonology, Ome Municipal General Hospital, Ome, Japan.
Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
|May 11, 2018
Summary
Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) rearrangement, typically seen in adenocarcinoma, was identified in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment with alectinib resulted in significant tumor reduction, suggesting ALK testing for specific SCC cases.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) rearrangements are common drivers in lung adenocarcinoma.
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a distinct subtype of non-small cell lung cancer.
- Identifying driver mutations is crucial for targeted therapy in lung cancer.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old non-smoking female presented with cough and appetite loss.
- Computed tomography revealed a left lower lobe lung mass.
- Pathological examination diagnosed the tumor as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Findings:
- Genetic analysis revealed an Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) rearrangement in the SCC tumor.
- The patient was treated with the ALK inhibitor alectinib.
- Alectinib treatment led to a remarkable reduction in tumor volume with no severe adverse events.
Implications:
- This case highlights the rare occurrence of ALK rearrangement in SCC.
- It suggests that ALK rearrangement testing may be beneficial in non-smokers with SCC or those presenting with atypical features.
- Targeted therapy with ALK inhibitors like alectinib could be a viable option for select SCC patients with ALK alterations.
Related Concept Videos
02:35Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression
24.9K
Chromatin is the massive complex of DNA and proteins packaged inside the nucleus. The complexity of chromatin folding and how it is packaged inside the nucleus greatly influences access to genetic information. Generally, the nucleus' periphery is considered transcriptionally repressive, while the cell's interior is considered a transcriptionally active area.
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the...
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the...
24.9K
02:32Position-effect Variegation
7.1K
In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
7.1K
01:31Position and Displacement
26.8K
The position of an object defines its location relative to a convenient frame of reference at any particular time. A frame of reference is an arbitrary set of axes from which the position and motion of an object are described. Earth is often used as a frame of reference, and we often describe the position of an object as it relates to stationary objects on Earth. For example, a rocket launch could be described in terms of the position of the rocket with respect to Earth as a whole. On the other...
26.8K
01:03Serial Position Effect
563
The serial position effect is a cognitive phenomenon where individuals are more likely to recall the first and last items in a list compared to those in the middle. This effect is divided into the primacy effect and the recency effect. The primacy effect is observed when the initial items in a list are remembered better. This occurs because these items are rehearsed more frequently or receive more elaborative processing, allowing them to be encoded into long-term memory more effectively. For...
563
01:45Positive Regulator Molecules
136.5K
To consistently produce healthy cells, the cell cycle—the process that generates daughter cells—must be precisely regulated.
136.5K
01:29Position Vectors
2.0K
A position vector is a fundamental concept in mathematics that helps determine the position of one point with respect to another point in space. It is a vector that describes the direction and distance between two points. Position vectors are highly useful in the field of math and science, as they help represent spatial relationships and make calculations easier.
For instance, we want to locate a point P(x, y, z) relative to the origin of coordinates O. In that case, we can define a position...
For instance, we want to locate a point P(x, y, z) relative to the origin of coordinates O. In that case, we can define a position...
2.0K