ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma receptor tyrosine Kinase) is a gene found in cells that is important for cell growth and survival.

In some people, the ALK gene joins or fuses with a different gene. This causes the ALK gene to become active again and cells to begin growing out of control, causing cancer. When this happens in the lung, it is called ALK-positive NSCLC.

ALK-positive lung cancer can be found through biomarker testing. Biomarker testing tells your healthcare team what mutations or changes cancer cells have and your results can help guide your healthcare team to the best treatment for you. People with stages 1B through 4B (IB through IVB) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) should ask for comprehensive biomarker testing because it looks for all known biomarkers instead of just a few.

Scientists have found many different types of changes in ALK for lung cancer. The most common change in ALK found in people with lung cancer is when ALK fuses with another gene called EML4. Currently, all ALK-positive lung cancers are treated with the same targeted therapy drug options, regardless of the specific change in ALK.

• It occurs in about 5 out of every 100 cases (5%) of NSCLC.
• It most often occurs in a type of NSCLC called adenocarcinoma.
• People diagnosed with ALK-positive lung cancer are more often younger (under 50 years old) and without a smoking history.

If your biomarker testing finds that you have a change in the ALK gene, you will most likely receive a targeted therapy treatment. Targeted therapies are a special type of drug that can "target" cancer cells based on what makes them different from healthy cells. Because of this, healthy cells in the body are often not affected by targeted therapies, resulting in fewer side effects.

Most targeted therapy treatments are pills, but a few are given through an IV or a port (a small tube inserted in a vein). The drug names that end in -ib are pills and can be taken at home. The drug names that end in -mab are given through an IV at a cancer center.

Below is a list of targeted therapy drugs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved for use with NSCLC ALK fusions. The FDA approves each drug for use in NSCLC at specific stages of the disease.

Everyone is different, and the side effects you may have while receiving treatment can vary. Some people experience side effects, while others don’t. Ask a member of your healthcare team about the possible side effects of your treatment and when to seek medical attention.