EML4-ALK-targeted therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: molecular and clinical aspects.
Summary of "EML4-ALK-targeted therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: molecular and clinical aspects."
The identification of oncogenic genomic alterations is expected to facilitate the development of new molecularly targeted therapies for cancer. EML4 (echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4)-ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) was recently identified as a transforming fusion gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of ALK, crizotinib, shows pronounced clinical activity in the treatment of patients with NSCLC positive for EML4-ALK, and it has rapidly entered into daily clinical practice. This review focuses on the biology and clinical features of, as well as diagnostic testing for, EML4-ALK-positive NSCLC. Current data on the efficacy and toxicity of crizotinib are also examined, and future directions for the treatment of NSCLC positive for ALK rearrangement are addressed.
Affiliation
Department of Medical Oncology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Cancer science
ISSN: 1349-7006
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22568572
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1349-7006.2012.02327.x
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Carcinoma, Bronchogenic
Malignant neoplasm arising from the epithelium of the BRONCHI. It represents a large group of epithelial lung malignancies which can be divided into two clinical groups: SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER and NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG CARCINOMA.
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
A form of highly malignant lung cancer that is composed of small ovoid cells (SMALL CELL CARCINOMA).
Carcinoma, Non-small-cell Lung
A heterogeneous aggregate of at least three distinct histological types of lung cancer, including SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA; ADENOCARCINOMA; and LARGE CELL CARCINOMA. They are dealt with collectively because of their shared treatment strategy.
Radioimmunotherapy
Radiotherapy where cytotoxic radionuclides are linked to antibodies in order to deliver toxins directly to tumor targets. Therapy with targeted radiation rather than antibody-targeted toxins (IMMUNOTOXINS) has the advantage that adjacent tumor cells, which lack the appropriate antigenic determinants, can be destroyed by radiation cross-fire. Radioimmunotherapy is sometimes called targeted radiotherapy, but this latter term can also refer to radionuclides linked to non-immune molecules (see RADIOTHERAPY).
Photopheresis
A process in which peripheral blood is exposed in an extracorporeal flow system to photoactivated 8-methoxypsoralen (METHOXSALEN) and ultraviolet light - a procedure known as PUVA THERAPY. Photopheresis is at present a standard therapy for advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; it shows promise in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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