Use Of ALK Inhibitors Research Articles

Effective Use of ALK Inhibitors in EML4::ALK-Positive Lymphatic Malformations.

Genetically targeted medications are emerging as important therapies for lymphatic malformations (LMs) unresponsive to sirolimus. We describe two patients with EML4::ALK-positive LMs, one with Gorham Stout disease and one with a large genitourinary (GU) LM, who were successfully treated with ALK inhibitors. This report adds ALK inhibitors to the growing toolbox of molecularly targeted therapies for LMs.

Advancements in the Detection and Treatment of Rare ALK Fusion Mutations in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

This case report and comprehensive literature review highlights the significance of advanced molecular diagnostic techniques, particularly next-generation sequencing (NGS), in the identification and treatment of rare ALK fusion mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Through a detailed analysis of a single patient case, accompanied by a review of existing literature, we underscore the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic potential associated with rare ALK fusions in HCC. Our findings demonstrate the superior capability of NGS, both DNA-based and RNA-based, in detecting these mutations, leading to targeted treatment approaches with ALK inhibitors. The case report illustrates the practical application of precision oncology in HCC, showcasing significant clinical benefit and improved treatment outcomes with the use of ALK inhibitors for rare fusion types. This study not only contributes to the existing body of knowledge by documenting a rare instance of ALK fusion in HCC but also advocates for the integration of comprehensive molecular profiling into standard clinical practice to enhance personalized treatment strategies and patient care.

Role of ALK Inhibitors in Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma-Experience from an Indian Center.

Perumal Kalaiyarasi JayachandranAnaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is the second most common type of peripheral T cell lymphoma and an aggressive mature T cell lymphoma. About 50 to 70% of systemic ALCLs are anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive (ALK +), the proportion even higher in the pediatric population. The 5-year survival after chemotherapy is around 70 to 80%. But there is a subgroup of ALK+ ALCL patients who are refractory to chemotherapy. Brentuximab vedotin is an approved agent for such patients. The activity of ALK inhibitors in ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer is well known and has been approved for use. The efficacy and safety of ALK inhibitors in ALK + ALCL are largely under-reported. Here we have reported our experience in the use of ALK inhibitors in relapsed refractory ALK+ ALCL.

Association between improvements in survival of metastatic NSCLC patients and targeted- and immuno-therapy.

9090 Background: Significant improvements in mortality among NSCLC cancer patients in the US over the past two decades have recently been reported based on SEER data. The timing of these improvements led to suggestions that they are primarily a result of the introduction of new and innovative treatments, however few studies have directly investigated this. Methods: We utilised the US Flatiron Health database to identify a cohort of non-biomarker (EGFR/ALK/ROS1/BRAF) positive metastatic NSCLC (mNSCLC) patients and a separate cohort of ALK positive (ALK+) patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2019. Multivariable Cox models adjusting for baseline characteristics and receipt of targeted and immunotherapy were utilised to explore the relationship between these variables and changes in the hazard of death by calendar year in each cohort. Results: We identified cohorts of 30,076 (54.7% Males) non-biomarker positive and 652 (45.4% males) ALK+ mNSCLC cancer patients in the database eligible for the analysis. Survival in both cohorts improved over time. After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics the hazard of death in non-biomarker positive patients diagnosed in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 was observed to be 14%, 13%, 16% 19% and 21% lower respectively than that in those diagnosed in 2012. Upon additionally adjusting for receipt of first line or second line immunotherapy the decrease in the hazard of death by calendar year was no longer observed, suggesting improvements in survival observed over time may be explained by the introduction of these innovative treatments. Similarly, decreases in the hazard of death were only observed in ALK+ patients diagnosed in 2018 and 2019 relative to 2012 and were no longer observed following adjustment for the use of ALK inhibitors. Conclusions: Our findings expand on the SEER data and provide direct evidence linking improvements in survival of NSCLC patients over the past decade with the introduction of innovative therapies.[Table: see text]

CLINICAL EFFICACY OF TARGETED THERAPY TOWARDS METASTATIC LUNG CANCER CARRYING DISTINCT TYPES OF ALK REARRANGEMENTS

Introduction . Translocations of ALK receptor tyrosine kinase occur in approximately 5–9 % of lung adenocarcinomas. The use of ALK inhibitors usually results in the reduction of tumor size. Nevertheless, the extent and duration of response can vary significantly. The aim of the study is to summarize the available information on the predictive role of various types of ALK translocations in response to ALK inhibitors. Material and methods . The review presents the data from relevant laboratory and clinical studies published in PubMed database, as well as the authors’ own results. Results . A number of experiments on cell cultures have demonstrated that the structure of ALK fusion affects the properties of the resulting chimeric protein, in particular its stability and sensitivity to crisotinib action. The few available clinical trials, evaluating the effect of ALK inhibitors depending on the type of translocation, showed heterogeneous results. While some of them detected associations between the so-called «short» variants of EML4-ALK rearrangements and worse survival when using crisotinib in comparison with the EML4-ALK type 1 variant, the others failed to confirm these observations. The study of 64 Russian patients receiving ALK inhibitors also did not support the effect of different ALK translocation variants on progression-free survival or objective response rate. Conclusions . There is a diversity of reported associations, with none of them characterized by sufficient reproducibility. Current evidences do not support the predictive role of ALK variants.

Abstract CT139: Ceritinib (Cer) in combination with gemcitabine (Gem)-based chemotherapy in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors, a phase I study

Abstract Introduction: Cer is an oral ALK/ROS1 inhibitor. Aberrancies in ALK and ROS1 have been observed in many cancer types and ALK inhibition has synergistic effects with chemotherapy in ALK or ROS1 rearranged tumors in preclinical models. We launched a Phase I study of Cer in combination with Gem-based chemotherapy in advanced solid tumors. Herein we present initial results of this study. Methods: Phase I, dose-escalation study of Cer in combination with A1: Gem 1000 mg IV D1/8/15 q28 days; A2: Gem 1000 mg IV + nanoparticle albumin-bound Paclitaxel 125 mg IV both D1/8/15 q28 days; A3: Gem 1000 mg IV + Cisplatin 60 mg IV D1/8 q21 days in pts with advanced, solid malignancies until disease progression, intolerable toxicity or withdrawal. A 3 + 3 dose-escalation design was used starting at Cer 450 mg once daily (DL1) in all arms; DL2 was 600 mg once daily. Primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Cer. Key inclusion criteria: diagnosis of advanced solid malignancy for which Gem-based treatment was appropriate, >18 years old, ECOG PS 0/1, adequate bone marrow/renal/liver function. Key exclusion criteria: interstitial lung fibrosis/disease, recent acute coronary event, CHF NYHA III/IV, corrected QTc > 450 ms. Pts in A3 could have up to 2 prior lines of therapy. Prior use of ALK inhibitors allowed. Plasma was collected for PK on C1D1, C2D1, and C1D15. Archival tumor tissue was tested for ALK/ROS1/JNK/MET by IHC. Results: Thirty-eight patients were enrolled with 21 evaluable for dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in A1 and A3. A2 (n=4) closed to accrual for toxicity. Median age was 61 years. Seven pts (41%) had cholangiocarcinoma. A1 had one DLT (G3 ALT increase) in DL2; MTD was 600 mg. A3 had one DLT in DL1 (G3 acute renal failure) and two DLTs in DL2 (G3 thrombocytopenia and G3 dyspnea); MTD was 450 mg. G3-5 AEs in all pts: anemia (A1: 3/19, A3: 2/15), nausea (A1: 1/19, A3: 2/15), emesis (A1: 1/19, A3: 1/15), neutropenia (A1: 2/19, A3: 8/15), thrombocytopenia (A1: 1/19, A3: 4/15), hyperbilirubinemia (A3: 3/15), pneumonia (A1: 2/19), acute renal failure (A3: 1/15), fatigue (A3: 2/15). Fifteen patients were evaluable for response; the overall response rate was 20% with two PR (pt with head and neck carcinoma in A1 and pt with carcinoma of unknown primary in A3) - and one CR in a pt with cholangiocarcinoma (A3) lasting 10.3 months. Overall, disease control rate was 47%. Of 5 evaluable pts with cholangiocarcinoma 3 had clinical benefit. Median PFS 3.4 mo (A1)/4.8 mo (A3) and OS 13.7 mo (A1)/29.1 mo (A3). PK and IHC data will be presented at the conference. Conclusions: The MTD of Cer is 600 mg in combination with Gem and 450 mg in combination with Gem/Cisplatin. Further evaluation of Cer plus Gem-based chemotherapy is planned in ALK/ROS1 positive cholangiocarcinomas. Citation Format: Christos Fountzilas, Alex Adjei, Mateusz Opyrchal, Rachel Evans, Kristopher Attwood, Andrew Goey, John Wilton, Wen Wee Ma, Renuka Iyer. Ceritinib (Cer) in combination with gemcitabine (Gem)-based chemotherapy in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors, a phase I study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr CT139.

Efficacy and safety of ALK inhibitors in ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesNo overall survival (OS) benefit has been reported from a mature randomized trial with the use of ALK inhibitors. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of ALK inhibitors compared to chemotherapy (ALK vs. chemo) and 2nd generation ALK inhibitors compared to 1 st generation ALK inhibitors (ALK-2 G vs. ALK-1 G). MethodsThe electronic databases Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for relevant randomized trials. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) for OS and progression free survival (PFS), and pooled risk ratios for objective response rates (ORR) and toxicity were meta-analyzed using the generic inverse variance and the Mantel-Haenszel methods. To account for between-studies heterogeneity, random-effect models were used. Subgroup analyses compared PFS by gender, smoking status, brain metastases, race and age. ResultsSix trials were included in the analysis of ALK vs. chemo and four in the analysis of ALK-2 G vs. ALK-1 G. Treatment with ALK inhibitors improved OS compared to chemotherapy (HR: 0.84, 95 %CI 0.72−0.97) while a trend toward a better OS was seen with ALK-2 G vs. ALK-1 G (HR: 0.66, 95 %CI 0.43–1.02). PFS was improved with ALK vs. chemo and ALK-2 G vs. ALK-1 G (HR: 0.44, 95 %CI 0.35−0.54 and HR: 0.38, 95 %CI-0.29−0.51, respectively). ORR was improved with ALK vs. chemo and ALK-2 G vs. ALK-1 G. No difference in toxicity was observed. ConclusionsThis meta-analysis is the first, to our knowledge, to report an OS and PFS benefit with the use of ALK inhibitors compared to chemotherapy from randomized trial data. A trend toward a better OS was also seen with ALK-2 G vs. ALK-1 G and this is likely because of crossover effects and limited OS follow-up. Longer follow up and further research are warranted to directly compare ALK inhibitor sequences and to understand the outcomes of second generation ALK inhibitors as initial therapy.

Entrectinib in Two Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors Harboring ROS1 or ALK Gene Fusions.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare, indolent spindle cell tumor that typically affects children and young adults.1,2 IMTs occur predominantly in visceral soft tissue and are categorized as an intermediate malignancy because they have a potential for local recurrence but rarely progress to distant metastases.2,3 Approximately 50% of IMTs harbor ALK rearrangements, although gene fusions involving ROS1, NTRK3, and PDGFRβ have also been identified.2,4–6 Previously, the presence of ALK gene fusions has typically been identified using immunohistochemistry7; however, newer techniques such as hybridization capture-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) and NGS-based anchored multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing can now be used to detect gene fusions.8–10 The identification of patients with actionable gene fusions is important given the availability of promising therapeutic strategies.2,4 Surgical resection is the standard of care for patients with solitary IMT,11 but patients with unresectable or advanced disease have limited treatment options. The current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for soft tissue sarcoma recommend the use of ALK inhibitors for patients with ALK gene fusions12; however, there are no targeted agents approved specifically for use in fusion-positive IMT. Entrectinib is an investigational, central nervous system (CNS)-active, potent, and selective inhibitor of TRK, ROS1, and ALK.8,13,14 In phase 1 trials, entrectinib demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with different tumor types harboring NTRK, ROS1, or ALK fusions, regardless of the fusion partner gene.8 A majority of the responses to entrectinib occurred in a rapid and durable manner, and some patients remained on study due to clinical benefit even after experiencing disease progression.8 Here, we present 2 patients with fusion-positive IMT (DCTN1-ALK and TFG-ROS1) who were enrolled in the ongoing STARTRK-NG phase 1/1b trial ({type:clinical-trial,attrs:{text:NCT02650401,term_id:NCT02650401}}NCT02650401) and treated with entrectinib. These patients were identified as having targetable gene fusions using 2 diagnostic testing methods, a hybrid capture-based targeted exome sequencing assay and anchored multiplex PCR,15,16 at different stages of a diagnostic testing workflow.

Clinical outcomes of patients with resected, early-stage ALK-positive lung cancer

ObjectivesReports of the prognostic significance of ALK-rearrangement in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been contradictory. We aimed to determine the prognosis of early-stage ALK-positive lung cancers relative to KRAS- and EGFR-mutant lung cancers. Material and methodsWe reviewed medical records of patients with resected NSCLC harboring an ALK rearrangement (n = 29) or a driver mutation in EGFR (n = 255) or KRAS (n = 480). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was estimated for each genotype with the differences reported as a hazard ratio (HR). ResultsAmong the 764 patients, 555 (73%), 101 (13%), and 108 (14%) had stage I, II, and III NSCLC, respectively. ALK-positive patients were distributed across all stages: 10 (34%) stage I, 6 (21%) stage II, and 13 (45%) stage III. Median RFS was not reached for EGFR-mutant patients, 24.3 months (95%CI 11.4–65.3) for ALK-positive patients, and 72.9 months (95%CI 59.7 to undefined) for KRAS-mutant patients. When adjusted for stage, ALK-positive NSCLC remained associated with worse RFS compared to EGFR-mutant (HR 1.8, 95%CI: 1.1-3.1), but not when compared to KRAS-mutant (HR 1.3, 95%CI: 0.8-2.1) NSCLC. ConclusionsIn this large series of resected NSCLC, ALK rearrangements were associated with a trend toward inferior disease outcomes compared to other clinically relevant genomic subsets. These data support the need for clinical trials evaluating use of ALK inhibitors among ALK-positive patients with localized or locally-advanced disease.

実臨床でのALK阻害剤投与―症例選択と副作用マネージメント―

実臨床でのALK阻害剤投与―症例選択と副作用マネージメント―

Targeting ALK in neuroblastoma—preclinical and clinical advancements

Despite improvements in cancer therapies in the past 50 years, neuroblastoma remains a devastating clinical problem and a leading cause of childhood cancer deaths. Advances in treatments for children with high-risk neuroblastoma have, until recently, involved addition of cytotoxic therapy to dose-intensive regimens. In this era of targeted therapies, substantial efforts have been made to identify optimal targets for different types of cancer. The discovery of hereditary and somatic activating mutations in the oncogene ALK has now placed neuroblastoma among other cancers, such as melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which benefit from therapies with oncogene-specific small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Crizotinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of ALK, has transformed the landscape for the treatment of NSCLC harbouring ALK translocations and has demonstrated activity in preclinical models of ALK-driven neuroblastomas. However, inhibition of mutated ALK is complex when compared with translocated ALK and remains a therapeutic challenge. This Review discusses the biology of ALK in the development of neuroblastoma, preclinical and clinical progress with the use of ALK inhibitors and immunotherapy, challenges associated with resistance to such therapies and the steps being taken to overcome some of these hurdles.