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Anaplastic lymphoma kinase in human cancer

Christina Schonherr1, Bengt Hallberg, Ruth Palmer

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Umea University, Umea, Sweden.

Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis
|April 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor tyrosine kinase plays a role in many human cancers. ALK inhibitors show promise for treating patients with these specific genetic alterations.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor tyrosine kinase is increasingly recognized for its role in various human cancers.
  • Oncogenic ALK alterations are key drivers in specific cancer types, making them targets for therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of ALK's role in human cancer.
  • To discuss the implications of recent clinical trial results for ALK-targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on ALK in cancer.
  • Analysis of recent clinical trial data for ALK inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • ALK receptor tyrosine kinase is implicated in a broad spectrum of human malignancies.
  • Clinical trials of ALK inhibitors demonstrate significant therapeutic potential for patients with ALK-driven cancers.

Conclusions:

  • ALK is a critical therapeutic target in multiple human cancers.
  • ALK inhibitors offer a promising treatment strategy for patients with oncogenic ALK lesions.

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