A new potential driver mutation was recently identified in 5 to 10% of cases of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): fusion of the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 gene (EML4) with the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK), which results in the production of a fusion protein (EML4–ALK) (Soda et al, 2007; Shaw et al, 2009; Sasaki et al, 2010). Here, EML4 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.