An annual tradition is a reflection on the key developments in the field over the past year. This year saw some major advances, with several of the biggest changes bubbling just below the surface and about to really break out in 2015.  So without further adieu, here's my list.

For those who wish to access the pdf, it's here: Top 5 Highlights in Lung Cancer 2014

Agree? Disagree? What's highest on your wish list for 2015?

Acquired Resistance Forum Video #14: Speakers from video #11 and video #12 at the Acquired Resistance in Lung Cancer Patient Forum sat for a moderated Q&A with Dr. Jack West.

Acquired Resistance Forum Video #10: Online advocate and ROS1 patient "Craig In PA" Uthe leads a Q&A with speakers from videos #8 and #9 at the Acquired Resistance in Lung Cancer Patient Forum.

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Acquired Resistance Forum Video #9: Dr. Alice Shaw of Massachusetts General Hospital detailed for patients the so-called "next generation" ALK/ROS1 inhibitors, both those commercially available and those still in development.

Dr. Robert Doebele of the University of Colorado Cancer Center spoke to ALK and ROS1 patients about how and why their cancers become resistant to treatment and what options are available.

Dr. Robert Doebele explains why he feels that repeat biopsies help researchers better understand why ALK+ lung cancer patients become resistant to current treatments - and why some do better than expected. February 2014

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For ALK+ lung cancer patients, brain metastases are a common concern. Dr. Robert Doebele discusses the options available to treat brain mets as well as drugs that may break through the blood/brain barrier.

The doctors discuss the new FDA-approved drug for ALK positive lung cancer patients, Zykadia (ceritinib), including the dosage level, potential side effects and the ability of Zykadia to impact brain metastases.

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Lung cancer patients with high MET amplification appear to do well on Xalkori (crizotinib), a drug that is approved for ALK positive patients.

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Xalkori (crizotinib) has had great success treating ALK positive lung cancer patients. The next generation of ALK inhibitors are also showing great promise. In this video, Dr. Leena Gandhi of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute talks about the research.

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