title: Non-small cell lung cancer patients with EML4-ALK fusion gene are insensitive to cytotoxic chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although patients with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (EML4-ALK) re-arrangement and epidermal growth factor gene EGFR mutations have proven sensitive to specific inhibitors, there is currently no consensus regarding the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with such mutations to cytotoxic chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The responses to first-line cytotoxic chemotherapy were retrospectively compared between advanced or postoperative recurrent patients with non-squamous NSCLC who harbor the EML4-ALK fusion gene (ALK+), EGFR mutation (EGFR+), or neither abnormality (wild-type).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data for 22 ALK+, 30 EGFR+, and 60 wild-type patients were analyzed. The ALK+ group had a significantly lower response rate than the other two groups. Progression-free survival was significantly shorter in the ALK+ cohort compared to the EGFR+ (p<0.001) and wild-type cohorts (p=0.0121).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NSCLC patients with the EML4-ALK fusion gene might be relatively insensitivite to cytotoxic chemotherapy.
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yosuke
authors: Y
authors: Morodomi
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Mitsuhiro
authors: M
authors: Takenoyama
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Eiko
authors: E
authors: Inamasu
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Ryo
authors: R
authors: Toyozawa
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Miyako
authors: M
authors: Kojo
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Gouji
authors: G
authors: Toyokawa
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yoshimasa
authors: Y
authors: Shiraishi
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Tomoyoshi
authors: T
authors: Takenaka
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Fumihiko
authors: F
authors: Hirai
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Masafumi
authors: M
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Kenichi
authors: K
authors: Taguchi
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Seto
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Sugio
authors: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Clinical Research Institute, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yukito
authors: Y
authors: Ichinose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: C522504:EML4-ALK fusion protein, human; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer; anaplastic lymphoma kinase; cytotoxic chemosensitivity; epidermal growth factor mutation