Patient-derived lung cancer organoids for the selection of therapeutic options in an ALK-rearranged tumor.

Abstract

e21014 Background: ALK rearrangements are key targets in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, the optimal sequential strategy of ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) remains to be defined. Testing drug sensitivity in patient derived organoids (PDOs) could support a rational drug selection in this setting. Methods: We designed an observational study assessing the correlation between drug sensitivity of PDOs established in Invitrocue and the clinical outcome in our institution. To date, forty cases have been included, of which nine were lung cancers. Results: PDO was sucessfully established in 7/9 cases (77%). Three patients did not receive any of the drugs tested in vitro due to clinical deterioration. One patient was deemed as sensitive to carboplatin but tumor showed to be resistant. A meaningful correlation was observed in an oncogenic addicted tumor. A 54-year-old never-smoker man who had been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma stage IVa (T3N1M1a). He received standard first-line therapy with platinum-based chemotherapy, immunotherapy and antiangiogenics achieving tumor progression. A next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel revealed the presence of the EML4-ALK fusion variant 3a/b. The patient started alectinib but showed progression after 12 months. A second NGS panel did not identify any new ALK resistance mutation but acquiring TP53. Treatment was switched to brigatinib with no response. Finally, fresh tumor tissue was obtained from a liver biopsy to establish PDOs and drug sensitivity to 8 compounds was tested. The In vitro results demonstrated no activity of lorlatinib but a strong response to crizotinib. The patient started Crizotinib 250mg BID achieving partial response after 8 weeks and treatment duration of 6 months. A third liver biopsy for PDOs and NGS revealed acquired ALK C1156Y and I1171T mutations that confer resistance to crizotinib but sensitive to ceritinib, respectively. Conclusions: We present clinical evidence that PDOs are an alternative tool in oncogenic addicted tumors helping to guide treatment decisions and increasing a more personalized sequential treatment approach.