542P Growth modulation index (GMI) of larotrectinib versus prior systemic treatments for TRK fusion cancer patients

Belgian expert consensus for tumor-agnostic treatment of NTRK gene fusion-driven solid tumors with larotrectinib

Fusions of NTRK (neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase) genes with 5' partner genes can result in the expression of chimeric proteins that drive oncogenesis through ligand-independent kinase activation. Despite variable frequencies of NTRK fusions in different tumor types, the fact that they are common to a wide range of cancers raises the possibility of developing tumor-agnostic treatments specifically targeting NTRK fusion products, irrespective of tumor type. The first-generation Trk (tropomyosin receptor kinase) inhibitor, larotrectinib, was the first tumor-agnostic treatment of NTRK fusion-positive cancers in adults and children, to be approved in the European Union. This consensus, developed by a Belgian multidisciplinary expert panel, aims to highlight the unmet medical need associated to NTRK fusion-driven cancer treatment and, based on current knowledge of NTRK fusions and larotrectinib treatment outcome and safety, provide comprehensive guidance to oncologists regarding NTRK fusion-driven cancer diagnostics and the best use of larotrectinib in real-world clinical settings. Larotrectinib; NTRK gene fusion; Trk inhibitor; Tumor-agnostic; Expert opinion; Oncogene proteins; Protein kinase inhibitors.

Evaluating larotrectinib for the treatment of advanced solid tumors harboring an NTRK gene fusion

Introduction: Characteristic of some rare pediatric and adult malignancies, addiction to the NTRK oncogene family is also observed in a small fraction of common cancers. Inhibition of their protein products, the Trk kinases, proved a successful treatment strategy for these tumors.Areas covered: The current paper reviews the clinical development of larotrectinib, a selective inhibitor of the Trk kinase family, for the treatment of NTRK fusion-positive cancers. The manuscript includes an overview of the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The authors sum up by providing the reader with their expert opinion on larotrectinib and its potential future use.Expert opinion: Larotrectinib showed tolerability and high efficacy, regardless of the primary site. In 2018, larotrectinib was granted by the Food and Drug Administration a tissue-agnostic approval for the treatment of solid tumors harboring an NTRK fusion. The major challenges will be the implementation of the screening for NTRK fusions in the general oncologic population, and the incorporation of larotrectinib into the therapeutic algorithms.