Abstract
Recently, the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been found to be altered in several solid and hematologic tumors. Novel drugs targeting this tyrosine kinase receptor are under development, and early clinical trials are showing promising activity in non-small cell lung cancer patients with ALK+ tumors. Here, we review the structure and function of the ALK receptor, the mechanisms associated with its deregulation in cancer, methods for ALK detection in tumor samples, its potential as a new marker for candidate patient selection for tailored therapy, and novel drugs under development that target ALK.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
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Gene Amplification
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Humans
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Mutation
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Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Neoplasms / enzymology
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Neoplasms / genetics
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Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / antagonists & inhibitors
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Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
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Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
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Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
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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
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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EML4-ALK fusion protein, human
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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NVP-TAE684
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Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
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Pyrimidines
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p80(NPM-ALK) protein
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ALK protein, human
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Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases