In summary, ALK fusion-positive thyroid carcinomas are typically infiltrative PTC with common follicular growth, which may show tumor dedifferentiation associated with increased mortality.
Mutations of the BRAF and RAS genes and rearrangement of the RET/PTC1, NTRK1, and ALK genes using 769 preoperative fine-needle aspiration specimens and resected PTCs were analyzed.
These findings could pave the way for the development of new targeted therapeutic strategies in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinomas and point to ALK inhibitors as promising agents that merit rapid evaluation.