Sequencing of ALK Inhibitors in ALK+ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Emerging genetic biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma

Comprehensive genomic profiling is a next-generation sequencing approach used to detect several known and emerging genomic alterations. Many genomic variants detected by comprehensive genomic profiling have become recognized as significant cancer biomarkers, leading to the development of major clinical trials. Lung adenocarcinoma has become one of the most targeted cancers for genomic profiling with a series of actionable mutations such as EGFR, KRAS, HER2, BRAF, FGFR, MET, ALK, and many others. The importance of these mutations lies in establishing targeted therapies that significantly change the outcome in lung adenocarcinoma besides the prognostic value of some mutations. This review sheds light on the development of the comprehensive genomic profiling field, mainly lung adenocarcinoma, and discusses the role of a group of mutations in this disease.

A new ALK inhibitor overcomes resistance to first- and second-generation inhibitors in NSCLC

More than 60% of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients show a positive response to the first ALK inhibitor, crizotinib, which has been used as the standard treatment for newly diagnosed patients with ALK rearrangement. However, most patients inevitably develop crizotinib resistance due to acquired secondary mutations in the ALK kinase domain, such as the gatekeeper mutation L1196M and the most refractory mutation, G1202R. Here, we develop XMU-MP-5 as a new-generation ALK inhibitor to overcome crizotinib resistance mutations, including L1196M and G1202R. XMU-MP-5 blocks ALK signaling pathways and inhibits the proliferation of cells harboring either wild-type or mutant EML4-ALK in vitro and suppresses tumor growth in xenograft mouse models in vivo. Structural analysis provides insights into the mode of action of XMU-MP-5. In addition, XMU-MP-5 induces significant regression of lung tumors in two genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models, further demonstrating its pharmacological efficacy and potential for clinical application. These preclinical data support XMU-MP-5 as a novel selective ALK inhibitor with high potency and selectivity. XMU-MP-5 holds great promise as a new therapeutic against clinically relevant secondary ALK mutations.

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.

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

OBJECTIVES

No 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).

METHODS

The 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.

RESULTS

Six 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.

CONCLUSIONS

This 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.

Oncogene addiction and tumor mutational burden in non-small-cell lung cancer: Clinical significance and limitations

Lung cancer incidence has increased worldwide over the past decades, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for the vast majority (85%) of lung cancer specimens. It is estimated that lung cancer causes about 1.7 million global deaths per year worldwide. Multiple trials have been carried out, with the aim of finding new effective treatment options. Lately, special focus has been placed on immune checkpoint (PD1/PD-L1) inhibitors which impact the tumor immune microenvironment. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) has been found to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Conversely, recent studies have weakened the significance of TMB as a predictor of response to therapy and survival. In this review article, we discuss the significance of TMB, as well as possible limitations. Furthermore, we give a concise overview of mutations frequently found in NSCLC, and discuss the significance of oncogene addiction in lung cancer as an essential driver of tumorigenesis and tumor progression.

Impact of TP53 mutation status on systemic treatment outcome in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer

Background

We analyzed whether co-occurring mutations influence the outcome of systemic therapy in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods

ALK-rearranged stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients were analyzed with next-generation sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses on a centralized diagnostic platform. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined in the total cohort and in treatment-related sub-cohorts. Cox regression analyses were carried out to exclude confounders.

Results

Among 216 patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC, the frequency of pathogenic TP53 mutations was 23.8%, while other co-occurring mutations were rare events. In ALK/TP53 co-mutated patients, median PFS and OS were significantly lower compared with TP53 wildtype patients [PFS 3.9 months (95% CI: 2.4–5.6) versus 10.3 months (95% CI: 8.6–12.0), P < 0.001; OS 15.0 months (95% CI: 5.0–24.9) versus 50.0 months (95% CI: 22.9–77.1), P = 0.002]. This difference was confirmed in all treatment-related subgroups including chemotherapy only [PFS first-line chemotherapy 2.6 months (95% CI: 1.3–4.1) versus 6.2 months (95% CI: 1.8–10.5), P = 0.021; OS 2.0 months (95% CI: 0.0–4.6) versus 9.0 months (95% CI: 6.1–11.9), P = 0.035], crizotinib plus chemotherapy [PFS crizotinib 5.0 months (95% CI: 2.9–7.2) versus 14.0 months (95% CI: 8.0–20.1), P < 0.001; OS 17.0 months (95% CI: 6.7–27.3) versus not reached, P = 0.049] and crizotinib followed by next-generation ALK-inhibitor [PFS next-generation inhibitor 5.4 months (95% CI: 0.1–10.7) versus 9.9 months (95% CI: 6.4–13.5), P = 0.039; OS 7.0 months versus 50.0 months (95% CI: not reached), P = 0.001).

Conclusions

In ALK-rearranged NSCLC co-occurring TP53 mutations predict an unfavorable outcome of systemic therapy. Our observations encourage future research to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms and to improve treatment outcome of the ALK/TP53 co-mutated subgroup.

Diagnosis and Treatment of ALK Aberrations in Metastatic NSCLC

OPINION STATEMENT

There has been rapid progress in the use of targeted therapies for ALK-positive which has led to improve dramatically PFS and OS in the metastatic ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients. There are several molecules now available (crizotinib, ceritinib, brigatinib, alectinib, and lorlatinib) and others in development. Such an improvement in treatment efficacy has even more highlighted the importance of an adequate identification of ALK alterations. Efficient and easily accessible testing tools are required to identify eligible patients in a timely fashion. Different methods for detecting ALK+ NSCLC patients are now available, with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) currently representing validated diagnostic techniques for the initial assessment of ALK status. Furthermore the widespread use of next-generation sequencing to detect other possible different activating mutations has allowed to identify individual ALK fusion variants. Several more expensive and time-consuming methods are also available nowadays which have the advantage to detect even rarer uncommon ALK fusion variants and mutations in tumour or blood samples. A review of the evolving testing-treatment landscape is needed to highlight the importance of properly diagnosing and treating this group of patients.

CMTR1-ALK: an ALK fusion in a patient with no response to ALK inhibitor crizotinib

The targeted treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring genomic rearrangement of ALK is a paradigm for personalized oncology. More than 15 different ALK fusion partners have been discovered in NSCLC patients. Most of these ALK fusions responded well to the ALK inhibitor crizotinib. Crizotinib is an oral MET/ALK inhibitor used as first-line therapy in the treatment of advanced NSCLC harboring ALK rearrangement. An understanding of the mechanisms by which tumors harbor primary drug resistance or acquired resistance to targeted therapies is critical for predicting which patients will respond to a specific therapy and for the identification of additional targetable pathways to maximize clinical benefits. Cap methyltransferase 1(CMTR1) also known as hMTr1, which is translate a human cap1 2ʹ-o-ribose methyltransferase. Here, we report the newly found ALK fusion, CMTR1-ALK, in a patient who has no response to the ALK inhibitor crizotinib. The results remind us that detecting ALK status is important, but that determining the ALK fusion type and function may be more important for patient.

Treating ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer

Targeting genomic alterations, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements, have radically changed the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the case of ALK-rearranged gene, subsequent rapid development of effective genotype-directed therapies with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) triggered major advances in the personalized molecularly based approach of NSCLC. Crizotinib was the first-in-class ALK TKI with proven superiority over standard platinum-based chemotherapy for the 1st-line therapy of ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients. However, the acquired resistance to crizotinib and its diminished efficacy to the central nervous system (CNS) relapse led to the development of several novel ALK inhibitors, more potent and with different selectivity compared to crizotinib. To date, four ALK TKIs, crizotinib, ceritinib, alectinib and brigatinib have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and even more agents are currently under investigation for the treatment of ALK-rearranged NSCLC. However, the optimal frontline approach and the exact sequence of ALK inhibitors are still under consideration. Recently announced results of phase III trials recognized higher efficacy of alectinib compared to crizotinib in first-line setting, even in patients with CNS involvement. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge regarding the biology of the ALK-positive NSCLC, the available therapeutic inhibitors and we will focus on the raised issues from their use in clinical practise.

Molecular and clinical features of second-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors: ceritinib

The discovery of ALK rearrangement in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) triggered rapid clinical development of a family of specific drugs targeting this alteration, called ALK inhibitors. Despite high rate of responses, the vast majority of patients treated with first-generation ALK inhibitor crizotinib will ultimately develop disease progression. The second-generation ALK inhibitor, ceritinib, is an oral, small-molecule that inhibits the ALK kinase activity with a potency 20-fold greater than crizotinib, being able to tackle some of the principal mechanisms of resistance to crizotinib. Evidences from five large prospective clinical trials have so far showed impressive activity of ceritinib in ALK inhibitor pretreated and naive NSCLC patients. This review will focus on the preclinical and clinical data available regarding ceritinib pharmacology, clinical efficacy and safety profile.