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What is ALK?

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Last updated: December 2024

ALK for patients

What is ALK-positive lung cancer?

ALK-positive (or ALK+) lung cancer is a type of non-small cell lung cancer. It occurs when a gene called the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fuses with another gene. This fusion changes the way the signalling works within the cell, causing the cancer cells to continuously divide and replicate.

Who gets ALK+ lung cancer?

ALK+ lung cancer only accounts for about 5% of advanced non-small cell lung cancers**. ALK+ lung cancer can occur in anyone, but tends to be:

  • More common in those who are younger than the average lung cancer patient (>50 years of age, when the average age of lung cancer patients is >70 years) 
  • More common in women
  • More common in never or light smokers
  • More common in those of Asian ethnicity