As no information was available regarding the EML4-ALK variant in this patient, we initially characterized the effect of F1174S mutation in EML4-ALK V1, EML4-ALK V3a and EML4-ALK V3b, since these variants account for more than 80% of ALK-positive NSCLC cases (11, 13, 14, 16, 21). Here, EML4 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.