Non-Canonical Thinking for Targeting ALK-Fusion Onco-Proteins in Lung Cancer.

ABSTRACT: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements have been identified in lung cancer at 3-7% frequency, thus representing an important subset of genetic lesions that drive oncogenesis in this disease. Despite the availability of multiple FDA-approved small molecule inhibitors targeting ALK fusion proteins, drug resistance to ALK kinase inhibitors is a common problem in clinic. Thus, there is an unmet need to deepen the current understanding of genomic characteristics of ALK rearrangements and to develop novel therapeutic strategies that can overcome ALK inhibitor resistance. In this review, we present the genomic landscape of ALK fusions in the context of co-occurring mutations with other cancer-related genes, pointing to the central role of genetic epistasis (gene-gene interactions) i

SUBMITTER: Wu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5742812 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature