The detection of activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and the development of corresponding tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has led to an important expansion of the therapeutic options and to a significant improvement of the clinical outcome of these patients [1, 2]. The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.