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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase  listen  (A-nuh-PLAS-tik lim-FOH-muh reh-SEP-ter TY-ruh-seen KY-nays)

  A protein that is found on the outside of cells that sends signals into the cells. These signals help control cell growth and division. It is made by the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, which may be changed in some types of cancer, such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. These changes in the ALK gene can cause the cancer cells to grow and spread.