Our report draws the attention to the possibility that VCL-ALK genotype can be involved in older patients unassociated with sickle cell trait, also expanding the spectrum to ALK-rearranged RCC.
Interestingly, VCL-ALK fusion was found in pediatric patients with sickle cell trait, whereas other fusions were detected in adolescent or adult without sickle cell trait.
Further investigation revealed ALK rearrangements in all cases, manifested molecularly by fusion transcripts of either VCL-ALK (3 patients all with sickle cell trait which had been previously reported) or TPM3-ALK (3 patients, none with sickle cell trait).