The Kaplan-Meier curves for OS and PFS with respect to ALK (5A4) expression in astrocytomas showed that the patients with all grades of astrocytomas who displayed a lack of ALK (5A4) expression had more favorable OS and PFS as compared to the ALK (5A4)-immunopositive patients (Fig 1C). This evidence concerns the gene ALK and astrocytoma (excluding glioblastoma).