Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is recognised as a particularly heterogeneous disease, encompassing a wide spectrum of distinct molecular subtypes. With increased understanding of disease biology and mechanisms of progression, treatment of NSCLC has made remarkable progress in the past two decades. Molecular testing is considered the hallmark for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC, with liquid biopsies being more and more often applied in the clinical setting during the recent years. Rearrangement of the ALK gene which results in the generation of fusion oncogenes is a common molecular event in NSCLCs. Among ALK fusion transcripts, EML4-ALK fusion is frequently observed and can be targeted with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). However, acquired resistance and disease progression in many cases are inevitable. Conclusions: Based on the results, the EML4-ALK fusion initially detected in tumour tissue was preserved throughout the course of the disease. Two additional..... READ ARTICLE
ESMO Open, Cancer Horizons DOI:10.1136/esmoopen-2019-000561
Authors: Anastasia Kougioumtzi, Panagiotis Ntellas, Eirini Papadopoulou, George Nasioulas, Eleftherios Kampletsas, George Pentheroudakis