It is known that NSCLC patients with EGFR-dependent primary tumours when treated with TKIs can develop metastases, in which either the EGFR signalling is negated or resistance is acquired due to secondary EGFR mutations like T790M or MET amplification (Daneshmand et al, 2003; Gazdar and Minna, 2005; Engelman et al, 2007; Lutterbach et al, 2007). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.