Analysis of EML4-ALK rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer in Argentina

Real-World Incidence of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Alterations in Hispanics with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at a Large Academic Institution in Los Angeles

SIGNIFICANCE

This study identified a higher incidence of ALK alterations in Hispanic patients with NSCLC (12.76%) compared with that in non-Hispanic patients (5.36%) treated at a large academic center in Los Angeles, highlighting the impact of race on molecular alteration profiles and emphasizing the need to increase access to molecular analyses for this population. The variability in mutational alterations may be influenced by biological and environmental factors.

Prevalence of oncogenic driver mutations in Hispanics/Latin patients with lung cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The frequency of actionable mutations varies between races, and Hispanic/Latino (H/L) people are a population with different proportions of ancestry. Our purpose was to establish prevalence of actionable mutations in the H/L population with NSCLC.

METHODS

EMBASE, LILACS, MEDLINE, and Virtual Health Library were searched for studies published up to April 2023 that evaluated the prevalence of ALK, BRAF, EGFR, HER-2, KRAS, MET, NTRK, RET, ROS1 in H/L patients. Meta-analyses were done to determine prevalence using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Fifty-five articles were included. EGFR and KRAS were the most prevalent genes with high heterogeneity across the countries. The overall mutation frequency for EGFR was 22%. The most frequent mutations in the EGFR gene were del19 (10%) and L858R (7%). The mean of KRAS mutation was a 14% prevalence. KRASG12C was the most frequent mutation with a 7% prevalence in an entire population. The overall frequency of ALK rearrangement was 5%. The mean frequency of ROS-1 rearrangement was 2%, and the frequencies of HER-2, MET, BRAF, RET, NTRK molecular alterations were 4%, 3%, 2%, 2%, and 1% respectively. Almost half of the cases were male, and 65.8% had a history of tobacco exposure. The most common clinical stage was IV.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of driver mutations such as EGFR and KRAS in LA populations differs from what is reported in Asians and Europeans. In the present article, countries with a high proportion of Amerindian ancestry show a greater prevalence of EGFR in contrast to countries with a high proportion of Caucasians. Lack of information on some countries or studies with a small sample size affects the real prevalence data for the region.

Optimal Care for Patients with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Review on the Role and Utility of ALK Inhibitors

The treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has undergone a paradigm shift in the last decade. Molecular characterization of the disease has led to the rapid development of personalized medicine and swift delivery of targeted therapies to patients. The discovery of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene in patients with NSCLC has resulted in rapid bench–bedside transition of several active drugs, with several others currently in clinical trials. After the first-generation ALK inhibitor crizotinib, next-generation ALK inhibitors have entered clinical applications for ALK-rearranged NSCLC. Ceritinib, alectinib, and brigatinib have all received approval for ALK-positive patients who have failed prior crizotinib, as well as first-line therapy in treatment-naïve patients based on favorable efficacy. Most recently, lorlatinib, a potent, newer-generation ALK inhibitor, has been approved as second- or third-line treatment. These advances have led to better patient outcomes, but concurrently have led to several crucial unanswered questions about optimal care for ALK-positive NSCLC patients. The ultimate acquisition of resistance to ALK-inhibitor therapy poses a challenge to ongoing research efforts, in addition to the routine management of these patients in the clinic. This review provides a summary of the clinical development of crizotinib, ceritinib, alectinib, brigatinib, and lorlatinib and highlights current management paradigms, current and evolving clinical information, emerging clinical decision-making and sequencing of therapy in advanced, metastatic, or recurrent ALK-positive NSCLC.

Sequential therapy according to distinct disease progression patterns in advanced ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer after crizotinib treatment

Objective

Crizotinib is recommended as the first-line therapy for advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite its initial efficacy, patients ultimately acquire resistance to crizotinib within 1 year. In such patients, the optimal sequential therapy after crizotinib treatment remains unknown. This study explored which sequential therapy option confers the greatest benefit.

Methods

A total of 138 patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC resistant to crizotinib were studied. Based on patterns of disease progression of metastases, patients were divided into 3 groups: brain progression, non-liver progression, and liver progression. Sequential therapies included crizotinib continuation plus local therapy, next-generation ALK inhibitors (ALKi’s), and chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) from the time of crizotinib resistance to death or last follow-up.

Results

The 138 patients included 64 cases with progression in brain, 57 cases in non-liver sites and 17 cases in liver. A significant difference in OS was observed among the distinct progression pattern (median OS, 25.4 months in brain, 15.8 months in non-liver, and 10.8 months in liver, respectively, P=0.020). The difference in OS among sequential therapies was statistically significant in the non-liver progression group (median OS, 27.6 months with next-generation ALKi’s, 13.3 months with crizotinib continuation, and 10.8 months with chemotherapy, respectively, P=0.019). However, crizotinib continuation plus local therapy seems to provide non-inferior median OS compared with next-generation ALKi’s for patients with brain progression (median OS, 28.9 months vs. 32.8 months, P=0.204). And no significant differences in OS were found in patients with progression in liver (P=0.061).

Conclusions

Crizotinib continuation together with local therapy might be a feasible strategy for patients with progression in brain beyond crizotinib resistance, as well as next-generation ALKi’s. Next-generation ALKi’s tended to provide a survival benefit in patients with non-liver progression.

ALK rearrangements: Biology, detection and opportunities of therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

The ALK receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) gene encodes a transmembrane protein rearranged in 2-7% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. This gene has become the second most studied therapeutic target after EGFR due to the implied therapeutic opportunities. While the diagnostic of ALK rearrangements is well established, small molecules targeting ALK are in constant evolution because tumor cells eventually will develop mechanisms of resistance. In this review we describe the biology of the ALK gene, alterations, epidemiology, diagnostic tests as well as strategies of treatment.