IHC - Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase 1 Test

The IHC or Immunohistochemistry test for Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase is conducted to determine how likely will a person with adenocarcinoma non-small cell lung cancer respond to an ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) inhibitor drug therapy. The test detects the ALK gene arrangements in the DNA of cells in tumour tissue; it also helps to detect any abnormal protein produced by the mutated gene so as to help the treatment of cancer. Your doctor would generally ask you for the IHC test if you have been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer.

You do not need to prepare specifically for the test. You only have to make sure that you have gathered all the information from your doctor and are well aware of the process and the medications. Apart from this, your doctor would also like to know the medicines or supplements you take as certain medications can affect the test. Depending on your conditions, your doctor would advise the best course of action for you.

The test results are usually available in a few days’ time. If the cancer tissue contains ALK gene rearrangement mutation of a specific type or altered ALK protein, it means that you are more likely to respond to Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase inhibitor. But if the cancer tissue does not have an ALK gene rearrangement, you may not be very likely to benefit from the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase inhibitor. Depending on your condition and test results, your doctor will advise you will the best course of treatment and medication.

For the test, your doctor will take a tissue sample through the process of biopsy, or even during the surgery. Typically, a pathologist evaluated the sample tissue prior to testing.