Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In 2008, the number of incident cases was estimated to be around 1.6 million. This accounts for around 13% of all incident cancers. In 1994, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) was first discovered as part of the nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK fusion in anaplastic large-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ALCL). More than a decade later, genomic rearrangements in the ALK receptor tyrosine kinase were identified in a subset of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. Approximately 3% to 7% of NSCLC cases harbour ALK rearrangements but diagnostic of ALK rearrangements might vary in different countries and centers.
Following this discovery, a small molecule ATP-competitive ALK inhibitor named crizotinib was proven to be more effective than chemotherapy in ALK-positive NSCLC patients. Though most patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC respond to crizotinib, unfortunately, after an initial response to treatment with this tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs), tumors inevitably relapse, often after only 1 to 2 years of treatment. Second generation ALK inhibitors have been developed to overcome resistance. However, in some patients with ALK-positive NSCLC treated sequentially with several ALK TKI, resistance to second generation ALK inhibitors might also occur. Therefore, in order to overcome resistance to treatment by TKIs, and to improve treatment of ALK-positive lung cancer, it is vital to further research next-generation ALK-inhibitors and explore potential combination therapies.
In this Research Topic, we aim to further our understanding diagnostic and targeting ALK in patients with lung cancer to improve treatment, increase survival, and overcome resistance. We welcome submission on, but not limited to, the following:
- Methods to overcome the various mechanisms of resistance
- Combined therapies targeting ALK including ALK TKI with immunotherapy, ALK TKI with chemotherapy and ALK TKI with other kinase inhibitors
- Advances in the molecular biology of ALK-positive lung cancer
- Diagnosis for ALK+ tumors
Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In 2008, the number of incident cases was estimated to be around 1.6 million. This accounts for around 13% of all incident cancers. In 1994, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) was first discovered as part of the nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK fusion in anaplastic large-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ALCL). More than a decade later, genomic rearrangements in the ALK receptor tyrosine kinase were identified in a subset of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. Approximately 3% to 7% of NSCLC cases harbour ALK rearrangements but diagnostic of ALK rearrangements might vary in different countries and centers.
Following this discovery, a small molecule ATP-competitive ALK inhibitor named crizotinib was proven to be more effective than chemotherapy in ALK-positive NSCLC patients. Though most patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC respond to crizotinib, unfortunately, after an initial response to treatment with this tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs), tumors inevitably relapse, often after only 1 to 2 years of treatment. Second generation ALK inhibitors have been developed to overcome resistance. However, in some patients with ALK-positive NSCLC treated sequentially with several ALK TKI, resistance to second generation ALK inhibitors might also occur. Therefore, in order to overcome resistance to treatment by TKIs, and to improve treatment of ALK-positive lung cancer, it is vital to further research next-generation ALK-inhibitors and explore potential combination therapies.
In this Research Topic, we aim to further our understanding diagnostic and targeting ALK in patients with lung cancer to improve treatment, increase survival, and overcome resistance. We welcome submission on, but not limited to, the following:
- Methods to overcome the various mechanisms of resistance
- Combined therapies targeting ALK including ALK TKI with immunotherapy, ALK TKI with chemotherapy and ALK TKI with other kinase inhibitors
- Advances in the molecular biology of ALK-positive lung cancer
- Diagnosis for ALK+ tumors
Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
