Real-world survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors receiving standard-of-care therapies other than targeted TRK inhibitors

Systematic literature review of the epidemiology of neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase positive solid tumor sites

AIMS

This study aimed to expand on existing systematic literature reviews (SLRs) by assessing the prevalence of neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) fusion-positive mutations across solid tumors in adult U.S populations. It further evaluated incidence, testing, treatment, mortality, and progression rates by tumor type, extending evidence through 2023.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A SLR was conducted following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines, with searches across Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published from 2013 to August 2023. Eligibility criteria included studies on NTRK fusion-positive tumors in patients aged ≥12 years. Data were extracted and assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and JBI checklist.

RESULTS

This SLR identified 160 studies, reporting NTRK fusion prevalence ranging from 0.03% to 0.70% across solid tumors. TRK inhibitors, particularly larotrectinib and entrectinib, were commonly used treatments. Prevalence varied significantly by cancer type, being higher in rarer cancers, such as papillary thyroid carcinoma (up to 21.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

NTRK fusions are rare, with wide prevalence variability among cancer types. The findings highlight the need for standardized diagnostic methods and larger real-world studies to improve prevalence estimates and assess the impact of NTRK fusions on outcomes, ultimately aiding in the optimization of targeted treatments for affected patients.

Exploring Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved patient outcomes, their effectiveness is mostly limited to tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI-H/dMMR) or an increased tumor mutational burden, which comprise 10% of cases. Advancing personalized medicine in CRC hinges on identifying predictive biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. This comprehensive review examines established tissue markers such as KRAS and HER2, highlighting their roles in resistance to anti-EGFR agents and discussing advances in targeted therapies for these markers. Additionally, this review summarizes encouraging data on promising therapeutic targets and highlights the clinical utility of liquid biopsies. By synthesizing current evidence and identifying knowledge gaps, this review provides clinicians and researchers with a contemporary understanding of the biomarker landscape in CRC. Finally, the review examines future directions and challenges in translating promising biomarkers into clinical practice, with the goal of enhancing personalized medicine approaches for colorectal cancer patients.

"I Just Assumed This Was Already Being Done": Canadian Patient Preferences for Enhanced Data Sharing for Precision Oncology

PURPOSE

In Canada, health data are siloed, slowing bioinnovation and evidence generation for personalized cancer care. Secured data-sharing platforms (SDSPs) can enable data analysis across silos through rapid concatenation across trial and real-world settings and timely researcher access. To motivate patient participation and trust in research, it is critical to ensure that SDSP design and oversight align with patients' values and address their concerns. We sought to qualitatively characterize patient preferences for the design of a pan-Canadian SDSP.

METHODS

Between January 2022 and July 2023, we conducted pan-Canadian virtual focus groups with individuals who had a personal history of cancer. Following each focus group, participants were invited to provide feedback on early-phase analysis results via a member-checking survey. Three trained qualitative researchers analyzed data using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight individuals participated across five focus groups. Four focus groups were conducted in English and one in French. Thematic analysis generated two major and five minor themes. Analytic themes spanned personal and population implications of data sharing and willingness to manage perceived risks. Participants were supportive of increasing access to health data for precision oncology research, while voicing concerns about unintended data use, reidentification, and inequitable access to costly therapeutics. To mitigate perceived risks, participants highlighted the value of data access oversight and governance and informational transparency.

CONCLUSION

Strategies for secured data sharing should anticipate and mitigate the risks that patients perceive. Participants supported enhancing timely research capability while ensuring safeguards to protect patient autonomy and privacy. Our study informs the development of data-governance and data-sharing frameworks that integrate real-world and trial data, informed by evidence from direct patient input.

LMNA::NTRK1 Fusion-positive Leiomyosarcoma: Discrepancy between DNA-based Comprehensive Genomic Profiling and RNA Sequencing

A 26-year-old man presented with a tumor in the left soleus muscle. The tumor was diagnosed as a locally advanced leiomyosarcoma. The patient was treated with irradiation followed by wide resection. One year after surgery, the patient presented with multiple lung metastases. Despite aggressive sequential chemotherapy, systemic metastatic tumors continued to develop. To explore therapeutic options for the patient, we performed DNA-based CGP with FoundationOne® CDx (F1). F1 identified an out-of-strand rearrangement of the NOS1AP::NTRK1 gene, which has not been previously reported. In contrast, RNA sequencing revealed an in-frame LMNA::NTRK1 gene, which is an oncogenic fusion gene.

Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusions in adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors: a clinicogenomic biobank and record linkage study of expression frequency and patient characteristics from Finland

BACKGROUND

Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are oncogenic drivers. Using the Auria Biobank in Finland, we aimed to identify and characterize patients with these gene fusions, and describe their clinical and tumor characteristics, treatments received, and outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We evaluated pediatrics with any solid tumor type and adults with colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), sarcoma, or salivary gland cancer. We determined tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) protein expression by pan-TRK immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of tumor samples from the Auria Biobank, scored by a certified pathologist. NTRK gene fusion was confirmed by next generation sequencing (NGS). All 2,059 patients were followed-up starting 1 year before their cancer diagnosis.

RESULTS

Frequency of NTRK gene fusion tumors was 3.1% (4/127) in pediatrics, 0.7% (8/1,151) for CRC, 0.3% (1/288) for NSCLC, 0.9% (1/114) for salivary gland cancer, and 0% (0/379) for sarcoma. Among pediatrics there was one case each of fibrosarcoma (TPM3::NTRK1), Ewing's sarcoma (LPPR1::NTRK2), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (DAB2IP::NTRK2), and papillary thyroid carcinoma (RAD51B::NTRK3). Among CRC patients, six harbored tumors with NTRK1 fusions (three fused with TPM3), one harbored a NTRK3::GABRG1 fusion, and the other a NTRK2::FXN/LPPR1 fusion. Microsatellite instability was higher in CRC patients with NTRK gene fusion tumors versus wild-type tumors (50.0% vs. 4.4%). Other detected fusions were SGCZ::NTRK3 (NSCLC) and ETV6::NTRK3 (salivary gland cancer). Four patients (three CRC, one NSCLC) received chemotherapy; one patient (with CRC) received radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

NTRK gene fusions are rare in adult CRC, NSCLC, salivary tumors, sarcoma, and pediatric solid tumors.

Clinical characteristics and treatment patterns of patients with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors: A multisite cohort study at US academic cancer centers

BACKGROUND

Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are rare oncogenic drivers prevalent in 0.3% of solid tumors. They are most common in salivary gland cancer (2.6%), thyroid cancer (1.6%), and soft-tissue sarcoma (1.5%). Currently, there are 2 US Food and Drug Administration-approved targeted therapies for NTRK gene fusions: larotrectinib, approved in 2018, and entrectinib, approved in 2019. To date, the real-world uptake of tyrosine receptor kinase inhibitor (TRKi) use for NTRK-positive solid tumors in academic cancer centers remains largely unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the demographics, clinical and genomic characteristics, and testing and treatment patterns of patients with NTRK-positive solid tumors treated at US academic cancer centers.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review study conducted in academic cancer centers in the United States. All patients diagnosed with an NTRK fusion-positive (NTRK1, NTRK2, NTRK3) solid tumor (any stage) and who received cancer treatment at participating sites between January 1, 2012, and July 1, 2023, were included in this study. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, genomic characteristics, NTRK testing data, and treatment patterns were collected from electronic medical records and analyzed using descriptive statistics as appropriate.

RESULTS

In total, 6 centers contributed data for 55 patients with NTRK-positive tumors. The mean age was 49.3 (SD = 20.5) years, 51% patients were female, and the majority were White (78%). The median duration of time from cancer diagnosis to NTRK testing was 85 days (IQR = 44-978). At the time of NTRK testing, 64% of patients had stage IV disease, compared with 33% at cancer diagnosis. Prevalent cancer types in the overall cohort included head and neck (15%), thyroid (15%), brain (13%), lung (13%), and colorectal (11%). NTRK1 fusions were most common (45%), followed by NTRK3 (40%) and NTRK2 (15%). Across all lines of therapy, 51% of patients (n = 28) received a TRKi. Among TRKi-treated patients, 71% had stage IV disease at TRKi initiation. The median time from positive NTRK test to initiation of TRKi was 48 days (IQR = 9-207). TRKis were commonly given as first-line (30%) or second-line (48%) therapies. Median duration of therapy was 610 (IQR = 182-764) days for TRKi use and 207.5 (IQR = 42-539) days for all other first-line therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports on contemporary real-world NTRK testing patterns and use of TRKis in solid tumors, including time between NTRK testing and initiation of TRKi therapy and duration of TRKi therapy.

Recurrent UBE3C-LRP5 translocations in head and neck cancer with therapeutic implications

Head and neck cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The identification of genetic alterations in head and neck cancer may improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes. In this study, we report the identification and functional characterization of UBE3C-LRP5 translocation in head and neck cancer. Our whole transcriptome sequencing and RT-PCR analysis of 151 head and neck cancer tumor samples identified the LRP5-UBE3C and UBE3C-LRP5 fusion transcripts in 5.3% of patients of Indian origin (n = 151), and UBE3C-LRP5 fusion transcripts in 1.2% of TCGA-HNSC patients (n = 502). Further, whole genome sequencing identified the breakpoint of UBE3C-LRP5 translocation. We demonstrate that UBE3C-LRP5 fusion is activating in vitro and in vivo, and promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of head and neck cancer cells. In contrast, depletion of UBE3C-LRP5 fusion suppresses the clonogenic, migratory, and invasive potential of the cells. The UBE3C-LRP5 fusion activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling by promoting nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, leading to upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin target genes, MYC, CCND1, TCF4, and LEF1. Consistently, treatment with the FDA-approved drug, pyrvinium pamoate, significantly reduced the transforming ability of cells expressing the fusion protein and improved survival in mice bearing tumors of fusion-overexpressing cells. Interestingly, fusion-expressing cells upon knockdown of CTNNB1, or LEF1 show reduced proliferation, clonogenic abilities, and reduced sensitivity to pyrvinium pamoate. Overall, our study suggests that the UBE3C-LRP5 fusion is a promising therapeutic target for head and neck cancer and that pyrvinium pamoate may be a potential drug candidate for treating head and neck cancer harboring this translocation.

Characteristics and Survival Outcomes of Patients With Metastatic RET Fusion-Positive Solid Tumors Receiving Non-RET Inhibitor Standards of Care in a Real-World Setting

PURPOSE

RET fusions are oncogenic drivers across different solid tumors. However, the genomic landscape and natural history of patients with RET fusion-positive solid tumors are not well known. We describe the clinical characteristics of RET tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-naïve patients with RET fusion-positive solid tumors (excluding non-small-cell lung cancer [NSCLC]), treated in a real-world setting and assess the prognostic effect of RET fusions.

METHODS

Data for RET TKI-naïve patients with metastatic solid tumors (excluding NSCLC) who had ≥one Foundation Medicine comprehensive genomic profiling test (January 1, 2011-March 31, 2022) were obtained from a deidentified nationwide (US-based) clinicogenomic database. The primary objective of this study was to compare the overall survival (OS) of patients with RET fusion-positive tumors versus matched patients with RET wild-type (RET-WT) tumors. Patients with RET-WT solid tumors were matched (4:1) to patients with RET fusion-positive tumors on the basis of preselected covariates.

RESULTS

The study population included 26 patients in the RET fusion-positive cohort, 7,220 patients in the RET-WT cohort (before matching), and 104 patients in the matched RET-WT cohort. Co-occurring genomic alterations were rare in the RET fusion-positive cohort. Median OS was consistently lower in patients with RET fusion-positive tumors versus those with RET-WT tumors, using three different analyses (hazard ratios, 2.0, 1.7, and 2.2).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that RET fusions represent a negative prognostic factor in patients with metastatic solid tumors and highlight the need for wider genomic testing and use of RET-specific TKIs that could improve patient outcomes. Our study also highlights the value of real-world data when studying rare cancers or cancers with rare genomic alterations.

Sequential treatments with TRK inhibitors in a patient with NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma: A case report

RATIONALE

Precision medicine and tumor-agnostic treatment strategies have recently been promoted for clinical use. One of the most successful treatments in patients with neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) fusion-positive tumors is targeting the tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) with an inhibitor. The TRK inhibitors, larotrectinib, and entrectinib, have been approved in many countries. Nevertheless, the most effective administration regimen for these TRK inhibitors is uncertain. To date, no reports have shown the efficacy of sequential treatment with larotrectinib and entrectinib in patients with NTRK fusion-positive tumors. In this report, we present a patient with NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma arising from the anterior mediastinum, with tumor progression after 4 months of entrectinib use. The patient took larotrectinib subsequently and maintained disease control for more than 21 months.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 48-year-old female visited a physician because she experienced difficulty in breathing and chest and back pain with no obvious cause 2 months ago. Computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy was performed at a district general hospital, and histopathological examination revealed a small round cell tumor. She was referred to our hospital, and a second CT-guided biopsy was performed to confirm the pathological diagnosis. Considering the results of the histopathological examination, Ewing sarcoma was suspected, but a specific fusion gene was not detected due to poor quality specimens.

DIAGNOSES

After 3 regimens of cytotoxic chemotherapy, biopsy was repeated, and specimens were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The PHF20-NTRK1 fusion gene was detected, and the tumor was finally diagnosed as an NTRK fusion-positive sarcoma.

INTERVENTIONS

She was administered the TRK inhibitor entrectinib, but the tumor started to grow after 4 months of medication, and she stopped taking entrectinib. After 1 cycle of cytotoxic chemotherapy, another TRK inhibitor, larotrectinib, was administered.

OUTCOMES

Her stable disease was maintained for more than 21 months. Here, we have shown that sequential administration of both drugs can be effective.

LESSONS

In the treatment of NTRK fusion-positive tumors, there are cases in which 2 approved first-generation TRK inhibitors can be used sequentially.

Toward Best Practices for Economic Evaluations of Tumor-Agnostic Therapies: A Review of Current Barriers and Solutions

OBJECTIVES

Cancer therapies targeting tumor-agnostic biomarkers are challenging traditional health technology assessment (HTA) frameworks. The high prevalence of nonrandomized single-arm trials, heterogeneity, and small benefiting populations are driving outcomes uncertainty, challenging healthcare decision making. We conducted a structured literature review to identify barriers and prioritize solutions to generating economic evidence for tumor-agnostic therapies.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE and Embase for English-language studies conducting economic evaluations of tumor-agnostic treatments or exploring related challenges and solutions. We included studies published by December 2022 and supplemented our review with Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technical reports for approved tumor-agnostic therapies. Three reviewers abstracted and summarized key methodological and empirical study characteristics. Challenges and solutions were identified through authors' statements and categorized using directed content analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies met our inclusion criteria. Studies spanned economic evaluations (n = 5), reimbursement reviews (n = 4), qualitative research (n = 1), methods validations (n = 3), and commentaries or literature reviews (n = 13). Challenges encountered related to (1) the treatment setting and clinical trial designs, (2) a lack of data or low-quality data on clinical and cost parameters, and (3) an inability to produce evidence that meets HTA guidelines. Although attempted solutions centered on analytic approaches for managing missing data, proposed solutions highlighted the need for real-world evidence combined with life-cycle HTA to reduce future evidentiary uncertainty.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapeutic innovation outpaces HTA evidence generation and the methods that support it. Existing HTA frameworks must be adapted for tumor-agnostic treatments to support future economic evaluations enabling timely patient access.

A real-world analysis of tyrosine receptor kinase inhibitor-related toxicities in cancer treatment

Background: This study analyzed real-world data from 2004 to 2023 to evaluate the toxicity profile of tyrosine receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor therapy. Method: A retrospective analysis of US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System data was conducted to identify adverse events in patients receiving TRK inhibitor therapy. Result: Entrectinib demonstrated toxicities primarily in the cardiovascular and nervous systems, followed by the renal and urinary system. Common adverse effects included dizziness, renal impairment, constipation, heart failure and taste disorders. Larotrectinib induced adverse events mainly in the hepatobiliary and nervous systems, with peripheral neuropathy, myalgia, renal impairment and increased alanine aminotransferase commonly reported. Conclusion: Careful monitoring and supportive care strategies are essential for managing adverse events associated with TRK inhibitor therapy.

Prognostic Value of Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase Gene Fusions in Solid Tumors for Overall Survival: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Evidence suggests that neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions in solid tumors are predictive biomarkers for targeted inhibition across a number of adult and pediatric tumor types. However, despite robust clinical response to tyrosine receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors, the natural history and prognostic implications of NTRK fusions in solid tumors are poorly understood. It is important to evaluate their prognostic significance on survival to provide some context to the clinical effectiveness observed in clinical trials of TRK-targeted therapies.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted in Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed to identify studies comparing the overall survival (OS) of patients with NTRK fusion-positive (NTRK+) versus NTRK fusion-negative (NTRK-) tumors. Five retrospective matched case-control studies published before 11 August 2022 were assessed for inclusion, and three were selected for the meta-analysis (sample size: 69 NTRK+, 444 NTRK-). Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Studies tool. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) was estimated using a Bayesian random-effects model.

RESULTS

In the meta-analysis, the median follow-up ranged from 2 to 14 years and the median OS was between 10.1 and 12.7 months (where reported). Comparing patients with tumors NTRK+ and NTRK-, the pooled HR estimate for OS was 1.51 (95% credible interval, 1.01 to 2.29). The patients analyzed had no previous or current exposure to TRK inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

In patients not treated with TRK inhibitor therapies, those with NTRK+ solid tumors have a 50% increased risk of mortality within 10 years from diagnosis or the start of standard therapy compared with those with NTRK- status. Although this is the most robust estimate of the comparative survival rate to date, further studies are required to reduce uncertainty.

Survival Outcomes of Patients With Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase Fusion-Positive Cancer Receiving Larotrectinib Versus Standard of Care: A Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison Using Real-World Data

PURPOSE

Larotrectinib, a highly specific tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor, previously demonstrated high response rates in single-arm trials of patients with TRK fusion-positive cancer, but there are limited data on comparative effectiveness against standard-of-care (SoC) regimens used in routine health care practice, before widespread adoption of TRK inhibitors as SoC for TRK fusion-positive cancers. Matching-adjusted indirect comparison, a validated methodology that balances population characteristics to facilitate cross-trial comparisons, was used to compare the overall survival (OS) of larotrectinib versus non-TRK-inhibitor SoC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Individual patient data from three larotrectinib trials (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02122913, NCT02637687, and NCT02576431) were compared with published aggregate real-world data from patients with locally advanced/metastatic TRK fusion-positive cancer identified in the Flatiron Health/Foundation Medicine database. OS was defined as the time from advanced/metastatic disease diagnosis to death. After matching population characteristics, the analyses included (1) a log-rank test of equality to test whether the two groups were similar before larotrectinib initiation; and (2) estimation of treatment effect of larotrectinib versus non-TRK-inhibitor SoC. These analyses are limited to prognostic variables available in real-world data.

RESULTS

Eighty-five larotrectinib patients and 28 non-TRK-inhibitor SoC patients were included in the analyses. After matching, log-rank testing showed no difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P = .31). After matching, larotrectinib was associated with a 78% lower risk of death, compared with non-TRK-inhibitor SoC (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.09 to 0.52]; P = .001); median OS was 39.7 months (95% CI: 16.4, NE [not estimable]) for larotrectinib and 10.2 months (95% CI: 7.2, 14.1) for SoC.

CONCLUSION

Matching-adjusted indirect comparison analyses suggest longer OS with larotrectinib, compared with non-TRK-inhibitor SoC, in adult patients with TRK fusion-positive cancer.