Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) in Posterior Cranial Fossa Tumors: A Scoping Review of Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Perspectives

Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) has been implicated in several human cancers. This review aims at mapping the available literature on the involvement of ALK in non-glial tumors localized in the posterior cranial fossa and at identifying diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic considerations. Follow...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancers 2024-02, Vol.16 (3), p.650
Main Authors: Mousa, Danai-Priskila V, Mavrovounis, Georgios, Argyropoulos, Dionysios, Stranjalis, George, Kalamatianos, Theodosis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Analysis
Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma
Brain tumors
Cancer
Chromosomes
Clinical outcomes
Clinical trials
Crizotinib
Gene mapping
Genetic analysis
Genetic screening
Glial cells
Gliomas
Histiocytosis
Immunohistochemistry
Inflammation
Kinases
Ligands
Lung cancer
Lymphoma
Medulloblastoma
Mutation
Nervous system
Neuroblastoma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
Oncology
Oncology, Experimental
Phosphatase
Polypeptides
Protein-tyrosine kinase
Proteins
Skull
Spinal cord
Surgery
Tumors
Wnt protein
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Summary:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) has been implicated in several human cancers. This review aims at mapping the available literature on the involvement of ALK in non-glial tumors localized in the posterior cranial fossa and at identifying diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic considerations. Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, studies were included if they investigated ALK's role in primary CNS, non-glial tumors located in the posterior cranial fossa. A total of 210 manuscripts were selected for full-text review and 16 finally met the inclusion criteria. The review included 55 cases of primary, intracranial neoplasms with ALK genetic alterations and/or protein expression, located in the posterior fossa, comprising of medulloblastoma, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, histiocytosis, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors, and intracranial myxoid mesenchymal tumors. ALK pathology was investigated via immunohistochemistry or genetic analysis. Several studies provided evidence for potential diagnostic and prognostic value for ALK assessment as well as therapeutic efficacy in its targeting. The available findings on ALK in posterior fossa tumors are limited. Nevertheless, previous findings suggest that ALK assessment is of diagnostic and prognostic value in medulloblastoma (WNT-activated). Interestingly, a substantial proportion of ALK-positive/altered CNS histiocytoses thus far identified have been localized in the posterior fossa. The therapeutic potential of ALK inhibition in histiocytosis warrants further investigation.
ISSN:2072-6694
2072-6694
DOI:10.3390/cancers16030650