ROS1 Mutation in Lung Cancer

The ROS1 mutation in lung cancer is a mutation on the ROS1 gene that occurs in 1% of lung adenocarcinoma cases.

In lung cancer, the ROS1 mutation is caused by genetic changes called fusion. The ROS1 gene, which encodes the tyrosine kinase protein, plays a role in the division and growth activities of the cell. Due to the mutation in the ROS1 gene, cancer occurs because of uncontrolled cell growth.

What is ROS1 Mutation in Lung Cancer?

In lung cancer, the ROS1 mutation is the result of the fusion of a gene called ROS1 with a nearby gene. As a result of this reaction, the ROS1 gene becomes continuously active. Then, the growth and division activities of the cell become uncontrolled. The common characteristics of patients with ROS1 positive lung cancer are as follows:

• They are younger than patients for other lung cancers
• They produce negative results to certain bio-tokens used for diagnosis
• Often found in people who have never smoked or smoked very little

The average age of patients with lung cancer is around 70 years. However, the average number of ROS1 positive lung cancer patients is in the 50-age band. One of the most important differences of this type of cancer from other types of cancer is that female patients have a higher percentage than male patients. In general, lung cancer is more common in men, however, in ROS1 positive cancers the rate of female patients is 65%.

What are the Symptoms of ROS1 Positive Lung Cancer?

Cancer which begins in the outer part of the lung does not show symptoms in the early stages and is usually diagnosed in advanced stages. ROS1, which causes breathing difficulties, show symptoms such as bloody phlegm, shortness of breath and chronic cough.

Ros1 Positive Lung Cancer Treatment Methods

Treatment methods such as surgical intervention and radiation are still used in cases of certain sizes and before spreading. In more advanced ROS1 lung cancer cases, chemotherapy is the most common method used.

Targeted Treatment Methods

Targeted treatment methods are applied orally to target genetic mutations that affect or cause cancer. These methods, requiring long-term drug use, seek to minimize the activation of the ROS1 gene and the activation of the kinase protein produced by the gene.