ALK

Translocations can affect the ALK, or the anaplastic lymphoma kinase, gene resulting in the expression of oncogenic fusion proteins. The formation of ALK fusion proteins results in activation and dysregulation of the gene´s expression and signaling which can contribute to increased cell proliferation and survival in tumors expressing these proteins. In addition, point mutations may activate the ALK gene in cancers such as neuroblastoma and thyroid cancer. In NSCLC, EGFR, KRAS and ALK, mutations are most often mutually exclusive.