Variant <scp>ALK</scp>‐fusion positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (<scp>ALCL</scp>): A population‐based paediatric study of the <scp>NHL‐BFM</scp> study group

SummaryFrequency, distribution and prognostic meaning of ALK‐partner genes other than NPM1 in ALK‐positive anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma (ALCL) are unknown. Forty‐nine of 316 ALCL diagnosed in the NHL‐BFM study group showed no nuclear ALK expression suggestive of a variant ALK‐partner; 41 were analysed by genomic capture high‐throughput sequencing or specific RT‐PCRs. NPM1::ALK was detected in 13 cases. Among the 28 patients with a non‐NPM1::ALK‐fusion partner, ATIC (n = 8; 29%) and TPM3 (n = 9; 32%) were the most common. Five of eight patients with ATIC::ALK‐positive ALCL relapsed, none of nine with TPM3::ALK. Variant ALK‐partners are rare and potentially associated with different prognoses.

Variant ALK‐fusion positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL): A population‐based paediatric study of the NHL‐BFM study group Conferences