EML4-ALK fusion

The EML4-ALK fusion is a genetic change that occurs in some lung cancers, where parts of two genes—EML4 and ALK—become abnormally joined together. This fusion creates a new, abnormal protein that drives cancer cell growth and survival. It acts like a faulty signal that tells cancer cells to keep dividing, leading to tumor development. Identifying this fusion is important because targeted therapies can specifically block the activity of the abnormal protein, improving treatment options and outcomes for patients with this genetic alteration.