ALK and cancer: In a comprehensive study encompassing 21 cancer cell lines belonging to diverse lineages, each characterized by a distinct oncoprotein [B-Raf proto-oncogene (BRAF), CKIT, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), MET, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2)], Mcl-1 was found to be specifically important for their survival when treated with specific inhibitors of the responsible oncoproteins.