title: [Crizotinib - molecular therapy for lung cancer].
abstract: The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) can act as a key oncogenic driver after activation by means of processes such as gene rearrangement. In approximately 5 % of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), an oncogenic fusion gene of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) and ALK has been detected using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Moreover, various methods including immunohistochemistry and PCR-based assays can be used for analysing ALK expression. Clinical data have been generated for crizotinib, a small molecule inhibitor of the ALK receptor tyrosine kinase, demonstrating a substantial improvement of objective response rate and prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard chemotherapy in pretreated NSCLC patients harbouring EML4-ALK fusion genes. In the current review, recent data on the detection and inhibition of ALK in advanced NSCLC are summarised.
authors.affiliation: Ambulantes Aachener Zentrum für Lungenheilkunde, Luisenhospital, Aachen, Germany. Dr.A.Groeschel@t-online.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gröschel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warth
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinmuth
mesh_terms: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077547:Crizotinib; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D000077547:Crizotinib; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases