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Liu W, Liu HJ, Wang WY, Tang Y, Zhao S, Zhang WY, Yan JQ, Liu WP. Multisystem ALK-positive histiocytosis: a multi-case study and literature review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:53. [PMID: 36915094 PMCID: PMC10010018 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02649-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive histiocytosis, a novel rare histiocytic proliferation, was first described in 2008; it occurs in early infancy with liver and hematopoietic involvement. The spectrum was subsequently broadened to include localized diseases in older children and young adults. However, its full clinicopathological features and molecular lineage have not been fully elucidated. RESULTS Here, we report four cases of multisystem ALK-positive histiocytosis without hematopoietic involvement. Clinically, three patients were adults aged between 32 and 51 years. Two patients', whose main manifestations were intracranial mass and numerous micronodules in the thoracoabdominal cavity organs and skin papules respectively, had a partial response to ALK inhibitors after surgery. One patient presented with mediastinal neoplasm without surgical treatment, and progressive disease occurred after two years of ALK inhibitor therapy. The fourth patient was a 17-month-old male with a large intracranial mass and presented with a poor response to ALK inhibitor and chemoradiotherapy; he died eight months after surgery. Pathologically, the histiocytes were large, with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, and mixed with variable numbers of foamy cells and Touton giant cells. Interstitial fibrosis was also observed. Histiocytes were positive for macrophage markers (CD68 and CD163) and ALK. KIF5B-ALK fusions were detected in two cases, EML4-ALK in one, and both DCTN1-ALK and VRK2-ALK fusions were detected in one case. CONCLUSIONS We observed that ALK inhibitors present robust and durable responses in adult patients but a poor response in young children with central nervous system involvement. There is no consensus on the optimal treatment regimen and long-term prognosis requires further observation. Moreover, every unusual histiocytic proliferative lesion, especially unresectable and multisystem involvement, should be routinely tested for ALK immunohistochemical staining to identify this rare disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hong-Jie Liu
- Department of Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei-Ya Wang
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yuan Tang
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Sha Zhao
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wen-Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jia-Qi Yan
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wei-Ping Liu
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
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