ALK fusion

Our standard operating procedure (SOP) was updated to perform orthogonal confirmation testing for stand-alone equivocal NTRK1/2 and equivocal NTRK3 (5' failure), but to ignore equivocal NTRK3 (5' intact) and report as NTRK2/3 indeterminate. Re-verification showed no change to ALK, ROS1, RET, MET ex14, and NTRK1 results. Sensitivity of NTRK2 detection was significantly increased (80% after orthogonal testing).

The AVENIO CGP assay is an end-to-end platform for tumor genomic profiling, with proven high analytical sensitivity and specificity. Its superb performance makes it well suited for translational research, providing deep genomic analyses to accelerate cancer research.

Fusion detection using ctDNA CGP showed high concordance to tissue tests and high accuracy in predicting therapeutic response in NSCLC patients. The ctDNA CGP is expected to provide an important diagnostic option for fusion detection.

AFP, the targeted, breakpoint/fusion partner agnostic panel, outperformed 3 other established panels using real-world, fusion-driven thyroid cancers by an average detection frequency of 39%. Such findings demonstrate the importance in sequencing panel selection for fusion-driven thyroid cancer detection, and the potential downstream consequences for diagnostic utility and therapeutic intervention.

Archer FusionPlex testing is a sensitive method of identifying recurrent and novel alterations in lung adenocarcinomas that are therapeutically actionable. Assessment of fusion/isoform-driven tumors demonstrates these alterations are acted upon. Public funding for all level 1 targeted therapies should be considered if the maximum benefit is to be derived from biomarker testing.

The routine use of RNA-based CGP analysis allows for the comprehensive detection of oncogenic fusions in patients with cancer. The diversity of tumor types in which actionable fusions were detected supports the broader utilization of CGP to potentially increase targeted therapy usage and improve outcomes across cancer subtypes.

P4, N=100, Not yet recruiting, Anhui Chest Hospital; Anhui Chest Hospital

P3, N=104, Not yet recruiting, The second affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University school of medicine; The second affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University school of medicine

P2, N=30, Not yet recruiting, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University

P2, N=150, Not yet recruiting, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital(Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences); Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital(Guangdong Academy of Medical Sci

P1, N=388, Recruiting, Shanghai Chest Hospital; CSPC Megalith Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd

Fusion detection using ctDNA CGP showed high concordance with tissue tests and accuracy in predicting therapeutic responses in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. ctDNA CGP may provide an important diagnostic tool for fusion detection.

We have therefore identified a number of case series and phase II trials using targeted therapy in resectable EGFR-mutant and ALK-fused NSCLC. Current evidence suggests that targeted therapies might be effective in patients with resectable EGFR-mutant and ALK-positive NSCLC, but ongoing trials will need to provide further evidence on the safety and efficacy of perioperative TKI therapy.

Six cycles of the dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin-combined chemotherapy were completed after an ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy of the renal tumor. After chemotherapy, the size of the original tumor in the right kidney had decreased in size, as well as the other metastatic lesions.

The association between CNS progression and breakpoint variants warrants further investigation. Our findings suggest that close monitoring and prompt intervention are crucial in prolonging the quality of life of this patient subset.

Reactivated ERK signaling promotes cell survival, which can be counteracted by combination therapies that block paracrine signaling. Our results identify a regulatory role for RTK fusion assemblies and uncover a mechanism of tolerance to targeted therapies.

P2, N=88, Recruiting, SWOG Cancer Research Network | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting

In further analysis, lorlatinib revealed superior intracranial efficacy and prolonged time to intracranial progression compared with crizotinib. Herein, we report a case of ALK-positive NSCLC with leptomeningeal metastasis that was successfully treated with lorlatinib after progression to brigatinib and alectinib. This case demonstrates the potential of lorlatinib in managing leptomeningeal metastasis in ALK-positive NSCLC. The case suggests a paradigm shift in therapeutic approaches for CNS metastasis, including brain and leptomeningeal metastases.

After the initial treatment with ensartinib, the patient experienced intracranial disease progression...Subsequent thoracic RT resulted in a partial response of the primary tumor; however, new brain and bone metastases were detected, prompting a switch to lorlatinib...Despite pembrolizumab treatment, the patient's condition deteriorated, and she passed away...Our findings revealed heterogeneity in ALK mutations and responses to ALK-TKIs, necessitating the close monitoring of genetic subtypes and associated mutations for tailored treatment strategies. Maintaining a heightened awareness of potential intestinal metastasis and vigilance in monitoring intestinal symptoms and abdominal metastases are pivotal for managing advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

A 43-year-old, female diagnosed with T4N3M1c NSCLC harboring the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK fusion variant 1 (EML4-ALK v.1) and TP53 co-mutation, displayed only mixed response after three months and highly symptomatic progression after 6 months of first-line brigatinib treatment. The latter may represent a mechanism of intrinsic ALK-TKI resistance and its recognition by FISH, in NGS-negative cases, may be considered before initiating first-line treatment. This recognition is clinically important as combined therapy with ALK-TKI and MET-inhibitor should be the preferred first-line treatment.

Interlaboratory studies using the EML4-ALK RMs and potential RMP showed that participating laboratories can produce consistent copy concentrations of fusion variant and ALK-ref as well as the ratio of EML4-ALK/ALK-ref. The established potential RMP with high specificity and accuracy can be used to characterize the EML4-ALK RMs, and the potential RMP and RM are useful to establish the traceability of EML4-ALK fusion measurement to improve the comparability and consistency in clinical tests.

Addition of ICIs to platinum-based chemotherapy in 1st line treatment may improve the PFS in patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC. The relatively high TMB might be involved in the prolongation of the PFS in patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC receiving platinum-based chemotherapy with ICIs.

Even within tumors harboring the same oncogenic fusions, a wide range of morphological, molecular and epigenetic entities can be observed. These findings highlight the need for caution when applying the fifth CNS WHO classification, as the vast majority of these fusions are not yet incorporated in the diagnosis, including grade evaluation and DNA methylation classification.

P3, N=280, Recruiting, AstraZeneca | Trial completion date: Oct 2032 --> Mar 2031

P3, N=280, Recruiting, AstraZeneca | Trial completion date: Aug 2033 --> Oct 2032

ALK inhibition was initiated with alectinib, resulting in rapid improvement of cutaneous lesions and eventual complete resolution of abnormal imaging findings, which was sustained at 24 months of follow-up. This case adds to the spectrum of ALK-positive histiocytoses and further demonstrates the positive response with targeted therapy.

P3, N=632, Recruiting, Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting | Trial completion date: Oct 2031 --> May 2029 | Trial primary completion date: Oct 2028 --> Aug 2027

Based on the genomic analysis, we treated the patient with brigatinib, an ALK inhibitor. We describe here a patient with LCNEC who responded significantly to brigatinib without serious adverse events.

Current sub-studies: S1900E (KRAS) activated on April 2, 2021 and is studying sotorasib (AMG 510) in non-squamous NSCLC...S1900G (EGFR and MET) activated on April 3, 2023 and is studying capmatinib and osimertinib with or without ramucirumab in NSCLC. S1900K (MET exon 14 skipping) activated on December 18, 2023 and is studying tepotinib with or without ramucirumab in NSCLC. S1900J (MET amplification) is opening fall 2024 and is studying amivantamab in NSCLC...One hundred seventy-four (5%) were submitted with the classification of "Other". The most common reasons included: no sub-studies available, patient chose hospice, and patient transferred to different hospital.

Ten additional participants have experienced Grade 4 treatment-related adverse events, nine of which are non-hematologic toxicities. There is one participant with a Grade 3 treatment-related Hepatobil disorders-Other due to autoimmune hepatitis.

P2, N=0, Withdrawn, ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation | N=44 --> 0 | Trial completion date: Apr 2029 --> Sep 2024 | Recruiting --> Withdrawn | Trial primary completion date: Apr 2027 --> Sep 2024

Positive ALK immunohistochemistry, ALK rearrangement, ALK fusion are helpful in diagnosis and ALK inhibitor therapy. Total hysterectomy is often performed for women who do not require fertility, while lesion resection and close follow-up may be considered for those who require fertility preservation.

We generated alectinib-induced DTP cells from a patient-derived ALK+ non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line and screened 3114 agents in the anticancer compounds library (TargetMol)...Triple combination with an ALK-TKI plus a bypass pathway inhibitor plus a GPX4 inhibitor suppressed cell growth and induced intracellular ROS accumulation more greatly than did treatment with each agent alone. The combined inhibition of ALK plus inhibition of activated bypass signals plus inhibition of GPX4 may be a potent therapeutic strategy for patients with ALK+ NSCLC to prevent the development of resistance to ALK-TKIs and lead to tumor eradication.

As demonstrated in our PTC cohort, DNA CGP and RNA CGP may be complementary for fusion detection in certain tumor types. RNA CGP complements DNA CGP by detecting fusions that cannot be efficiently baited on DNA CGP, while DNA CGP may complement RNA CGP by detecting fusions in poor quality (e.g., old archival) samples when RNA sequencing may not be not technically feasible. Clinically relevant fusions detected in this retrospectively profiled PTC cohort included therapeutically targetable fusion events (e.g., RET, NTRK, ALK) and a PAX8::PPARG fusion, which is suggestive of a follicular variant PTC.

miRNA pairwise expression profiling enhances the miRNA algorithmic classifier and mutation status in assessing malignancy risk and allowed for further stratification of both RAS-positive and mutation-negative Bethesda V thyroid nodules.

In older adolescents with ITN, the A firma GSC showed excellent performance when de fining a true negative result by histology or clinical follow-up. Our findings indicate that an A firma GSC-B result appears reassuring and may allow for a more conservative management strategy in younger patients with ITN.

P2, N=56, Recruiting, SWOG Cancer Research Network | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting

Despite two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin and gemcitabine, CT revealed that the pleural effusion had increased from it before chemotherapy, and the shortness of breath worsened...Treatment with alectinib, a second-generation ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, led to a partial response of 18 months' duration, and the shortness of breath improved...Variations in the drug response among EML4-ALK fusion variants highlight the importance of understanding their molecular structure. Further investigation is warranted to refine fusion gene detection methods and assess the therapeutic implications of rare fusion variants.

Overall, our findings provide insight into the genomic landscape of individuals with advanced solid organ malignancies from the MENA region and support the role of ctDNA in guiding therapeutic decisions.

This gap may be driven by the under-representation of important patient populations, including populations defined by clinical or molecular characteristics. In this review, we summarize the data outlining the evidence of ICIs in patients with poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), underlying autoimmune disease (AID), older age, active brain metastases (BMs), and molecular aberrations such as EGFR mutations, ALK fusions, BRAF mutations and ROS1 fusions.

SAMS is on a morphologic and molecular genetic spectrum with EFH, with a similar body site distribution, frequent clinical presentation as an exophytic skin tumor, and invariably benign outcomes; we conclude that SAMS should be considered a histologic variant of EFH. Some morphologically typical examples harbor alternate RET and NTRK3 fusions, such that SAMS is not an appropriate designation for this morphologic class; instead, to highlight the clinicopathologic similarities to EFH, we propose the diagnostic term "myxoid spindle cell variant of epithelioid fibrous histiocytoma."

P1/2, N=329, Recruiting, BicycleTx Limited | Trial completion date: Dec 2025 --> Dec 2026 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2025 --> Dec 2026