A new target for therapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Investigators report the identification of novel somatic mutations in the DDR2 kinase gene in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Cellular, biochemical, and human data suggest that tumor cells harboring DDR2 mutations have increased sensitivity to existing tyrosine kinase inhibitors, providing rationale for clinical trials of agents that inhibit DDR2 kinase in the disease.