Abstract
In non-small cell lung cancer, epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements have a major impact upon the level of response to treatment with specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This review describes the molecular basis of ALK inhibition, summarizes current data on the effectiveness and safety of ALK inhibition therapy, describes the different testing methodologies with their advantages and disadvantages, provides a suggested testing algorithm and puts forward a proposal for an external quality assessment program in ALK testing.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Algorithms
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Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnosis
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism*
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Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
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Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
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Clinical Competence / standards
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Crizotinib
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Gene Rearrangement
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Humans
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Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
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Lung Neoplasms / genetics
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Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
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Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
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Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism*
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
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Pyridines / therapeutic use
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Quality Assurance, Health Care / standards
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Quality of Health Care*
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
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Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
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Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism
Substances
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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EML4-ALK fusion protein, human
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins
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Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Pyrazoles
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Pyridines
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Crizotinib
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ALK protein, human
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Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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EML4 protein, human
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Serine Endopeptidases