M. Saeed Sheikh

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene is present on chromosome 2. ALK gene locus undergoes inversion leading to echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) gene and ALK gene fusion resulting in an oncogenic fusion protein. The ALK abnormality occurs in ~3-7% of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and generally associates with adenocarcinoma in those who never smoked or smoked occasionally. Crizotinib (Xalkori) was the first ALK inhibitor approved by the FDA in 2013 for the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC patients. However, resistance is noted within about one year of treatment with crizotinib....