# What is ALK rearrangement?

Source: https://oncologyistanbul.com/glossary/alk-rearrangement

> A gene fusion found in a subset of lung cancers that makes tumor cells targetable by ALK-inhibitor drugs.

ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) rearrangement occurs when the ALK gene fuses abnormally with another gene, producing a protein that drives tumor growth. It's tested for in non-small-cell lung cancer alongside EGFR, and tumors carrying the rearrangement are generally treated with ALK-inhibitor drugs rather than standard chemotherapy first.

## Related
- [Lung cancer treatment](https://oncologyistanbul.com/cancers/lung)
- [Targeted & Hormone Therapy](https://oncologyistanbul.com/treatments/targeted-therapy)

Full glossary: https://oncologyistanbul.com/glossary