• Applied next-generation sequencing to NSCLC FFPE samples (N = 24) and identified 50 genomic alterations in 21 genes
• Identified the KIF5B-RET fusion, an oncogenic driver, which is sensitive to several RET inhibitors

The discovery of RET fusion as an oncogenic driver in about 2% of NSCLC led to in vitro work demonstrating sensitivity to a variety of inhibitors of RET, including a number of TKIs. These findings have now spawned the launch of several trials targeting this genetic abnormality, including Phase II studies at Memorial Sloan-Kettering evaluating cabozantinib and a Dana-Farber trial evaluating sunitinib in addition to a soon-to-be-launched effort at Massachusetts General Hospital assessing the newly approved CML drug ponatinib in this patient subset.