Resistance mechanisms and potent-targeted therapies of ROS1-positive lung cancer.

The discovery of targetable mutations, which cause gene rearrangement, led to a major advancement in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and cancers with such mutations can be paired with drugs which specifically target them. c-ros oncogene (ROS1) positive NSCLC is one molecular subtype of NSCLC with a therapeutic target. Currently, different targeted therapies and ROS1 inhibitors have been discovered, but all are in different investigational phases, with only one (crizotinib) which is FDA approved.

Metastasis manners and the underlying mechanisms of ALK and ROS1 rearrangement lung cancer and current possible therapeutic strategies.

The rearrangements of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and the c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) have both been important driving factors in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They have already been defined in 3-5% of NSCLC patients. ALK and ROS1 rearrangements are associated with unique clinical and pathological features, especially patients are usually younger, with milder or never smoking history, and adenocarcinoma histology.