Tumours harbouring mutations in genes such as EGFR [1,2,3] and ERBB2 [4,5], or gene rearrangements involving ALK [6,7], RET [8], or ROS1 [9] are typically dependent on the oncogene for survival, with profound anti-tumour effects observed in response to the appropriate targeted therapy. This evidence concerns the gene ALK and neoplasm.