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. TPM3-ALK fusion oncogene sufficiently induces lymphoma/leukemia disorders (2).

Gene Aliases:

TPM3: CAPM1; CFTD; hscp30; NEM1; TM-5; TM3; TM30; TM30nm; TM5; TPMsk3; OK/SW-cl.5
ALK: ALK (Ki-1), CD246, NBLST3, TFG/ALK

Genbank Number:

NM_152263
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. Giuriato S. et al: Conditional TPM3-ALK and NPM-ALK transgenic mice develop reversible ALK-positive early B-cell lymphoma/leukemia. Blood. 2010 May 20; 115(20): 4061-70.