FN1: A novel fusion partner of ALK in an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare tumors characterized as low‐to‐intermediate grade sarcomas. Rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene have been reported in IMT. Here, we describe a novel fusion gene in an IMT tumor specimen. A 12‐year‐old male was admitted to our hospital with a bladder tumor. We identified the fibronectin 1 gene (FN1) as a fusion partner of ALK using 5′RACE. This novel fusion, FN1–ALK, resulted in ALK overexpression in the IMT. This finding should clarify the causes of IMT and facilitate development of novel therapeutics. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:909–911. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.