In previous studies, the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) gene translocation has been identified in a subset of patients with NSCLC, characterized by distinct clinicopathological features, including a lower age at onset (median ago of 52 years compared with 66 years in patients with the EGFR mutation), adenocarcinoma histology and a history of never or light smoking (4–8). The gene discussed is ALK; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.