The result: the spread of lung cancer.
This has led to better survival rates among patients who have stage 4 lung cancer.
This jot down of cancer usually begins near the outer portion of the lungs away from the airways.
Caspar Benson / Getty Images
Symptoms often don’t begin until the cancer has spread toward the center of the lungs.
When symptoms do appear, they usually manifest with achronic coughandbloody sputum.
Young women and nonsmokers, who may never suspect that they have cancer, can develop ALK mutations.
Once you are diagnosed with lung cancer, your cancer cells can be biopsied and tested for the mutation.
The types of mutations present in lung cancers vary depending upon thetype of lung cancer.
This fusion gene isnt ahereditary mutationlike theBRCAmutations which are found in some people with breast and other cancers.
Instead, this is an acquired mutation that develops in some cells due to a variety of factors.
For instance, exposure to environmentalcarcinogensmay damage genes and chromosomes and result in mutated cells.
In addition, the EML4-ALK fusion gene is not exclusively related to lung cancer.
It may also be found in neuroblastoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
These samples are checked for biomarkers that show the ALK mutation is present.
Treatment
ALK-positive lung cancer is treated with oral drugs that work to shrink advanced lung cancer tumors.
Kinase inhibitor medications work by blocking the receptor.
As a result, the abnormal signal telling the cancer cells to divide and grow never gets communicated.
Tumors can be managed for years with these drugs, reducing the likelihood that the cancer cells will spread.
Resistance
Lung cancers may initially respond very well to targeted therapy medications.
However, patients almost always become resistant to the medication over time.
New medications continue to be studied inclinical trialsfor people who develop resistance.
Medications may also need to be adjusted because cancers can further mutate over time.
Treatment Side Effects
Like other cancer medications, ALK inhibitors have side effects.
For those who dont have insurance, there are government as well as private programs that can help.
For those with insurance, copay assistance programs may help defray costs.
In some cases, the manufacturer of the drug may be able to supply medications at a reduced cost.
And, importantly, you may be able to receive free treatment if you participate in aclinical trial.
A number of genetic tests are available and sometimes the results can help guide treatment.
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