Targeting ALK: Precision Medicine Takes on Drug Resistance.

ABSTRACT: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a validated molecular target in several ALK-rearranged malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer. However, the clinical benefit of targeting ALK using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) is almost universally limited by the emergence of drug resistance. Diverse mechanisms of resistance to ALK TKIs have now been discovered, and these basic mechanisms are informing the development of novel therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance in the clinic. In this review, we summarize the current successes and challenges of targeting ALK.

Significance

Effective long-term treatment of ALK-rearranged cancers requires a mechanistic understanding of resistance to ALK TKIs so that rational therapies can be selected to combat resistance. This review unders

SUBMITTER: Lin JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5296241 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature