Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- Preface
- Part 1.1 Analytical techniques: analysis of DNA
- Part 1.2 Analytical techniques: analysis of RNA
- Part 2.1 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: signal transduction
- 10 HER
- 11 The insulin–insulin-like growth-factor receptor family as a therapeutic target in oncology
- 12 TGF-β signaling in stem cells and tumorigenesis
- 13 Platelet-derived growth factor
- 14 FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3
- 15 ALK: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase
- 16 The FGF signaling axis in prostate tumorigenesis
- 17 Hepatocyte growth factor/Met signaling in cancer
- 18 PI3K
- 19 Intra-cellular tyrosine kinase
- 20 WNT signaling in neoplasia
- 21 Ras
- 22 BRAF mutations in human cancer: biologic and therapeutic implications
- 23 Aurora kinases in cancer: an opportunity for targeted therapy
- 24 14-3-3 proteins in cancer
- 25 STAT signaling as a molecular target for cancer therapy
- 26 The MYC oncogene family in human cancer
- 27 Jun proteins and AP-1 in tumorigenesis
- 28 Forkhead box proteins: the tuning forks in cancer development and treatment
- 29 NF-κB and cancer
- Part 2.2 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: apoptosis
- Part 2.3 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: nuclear receptors
- Part 2.4 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: DNA repair
- Part 2.5 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: cell cycle
- Part 2.6 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: other pathways
- Part 3.1 Molecular pathology: carcinomas
- Part 3.2 Molecular pathology: cancers of the nervous system
- Part 3.3 Molecular pathology: cancers of the skin
- Part 3.4 Molecular pathology: endocrine cancers
- Part 3.5 Molecular pathology: adult sarcomas
- Part 3.6 Molecular pathology: lymphoma and leukemia
- Part 3.7 Molecular pathology: pediatric solid tumors
- Part 4 Pharmacologic targeting of oncogenic pathways
- Index
- References
15 - ALK: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase
from Part 2.1 - Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: signal transduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2015
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- Preface
- Part 1.1 Analytical techniques: analysis of DNA
- Part 1.2 Analytical techniques: analysis of RNA
- Part 2.1 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: signal transduction
- 10 HER
- 11 The insulin–insulin-like growth-factor receptor family as a therapeutic target in oncology
- 12 TGF-β signaling in stem cells and tumorigenesis
- 13 Platelet-derived growth factor
- 14 FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3
- 15 ALK: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase
- 16 The FGF signaling axis in prostate tumorigenesis
- 17 Hepatocyte growth factor/Met signaling in cancer
- 18 PI3K
- 19 Intra-cellular tyrosine kinase
- 20 WNT signaling in neoplasia
- 21 Ras
- 22 BRAF mutations in human cancer: biologic and therapeutic implications
- 23 Aurora kinases in cancer: an opportunity for targeted therapy
- 24 14-3-3 proteins in cancer
- 25 STAT signaling as a molecular target for cancer therapy
- 26 The MYC oncogene family in human cancer
- 27 Jun proteins and AP-1 in tumorigenesis
- 28 Forkhead box proteins: the tuning forks in cancer development and treatment
- 29 NF-κB and cancer
- Part 2.2 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: apoptosis
- Part 2.3 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: nuclear receptors
- Part 2.4 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: DNA repair
- Part 2.5 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: cell cycle
- Part 2.6 Molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis: other pathways
- Part 3.1 Molecular pathology: carcinomas
- Part 3.2 Molecular pathology: cancers of the nervous system
- Part 3.3 Molecular pathology: cancers of the skin
- Part 3.4 Molecular pathology: endocrine cancers
- Part 3.5 Molecular pathology: adult sarcomas
- Part 3.6 Molecular pathology: lymphoma and leukemia
- Part 3.7 Molecular pathology: pediatric solid tumors
- Part 4 Pharmacologic targeting of oncogenic pathways
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase, (also known as ALK, CD246 antigen, Ki 1 antigen, ALK tyrosine kinase receptor) is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. These proteins are essential for the transmission of extra-cellular signals to the interior of the cell and play essential roles in cellular activities including cell-cycle progression, differentiation, migration, reaction to stress, and survival.
ALK has been ascribed a role in neural development in humans, rodents, birds, Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as being necessary for gut muscle development in Drosophila. While many of the signaling pathways associated with ALK are common to other RTKs, the normal function of ALK has yet to be completely understood.
In common with other RTKs, ALK is frequently afected by chromosomal abnormalities, e.g. point mutations and translocations, resulting in the production of oncogenic ALK proteins with constitutively activated TK domains. Importantly, in contrast to other RTKs, oncogenic ALK proteins are present in hematopoietic as well as non-hematopoietic tumors. Indeed, the identiication of nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK led to the recognition of the tumor entity ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Much of the information concerning the signaling pathways of ALK has been elucidated from the study of the NPM-ALK fusion protein.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Molecular OncologyCauses of Cancer and Targets for Treatment, pp. 162 - 189Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013
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