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Li H, Liu J, Lan S, Zhong R, Cui Y, Christopoulos P, Schenk EL, Sasaki T, Cheng Y. An advanced NSCLC patient with ALK-RNF144A and HIP1-ALK fusions treated with ALK-TKI combination therapy: a case report. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2023; 12:2538-2549. [PMID: 38205210 PMCID: PMC10774998 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-23-656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement is one of the most important drivers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite the effectiveness to canonical 3'-ALK fusions, the clinical efficacy of ALK inhibitors in patients with complex ALK fusions, such as nonreciprocal/reciprocal translocation remains uncertain. Exploring the optimal therapeutic regimens for this subset of patients is of crucial clinical significance. Case Description We reported a female patient diagnosed with stage IVB lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) harboring a novel ALK-RNF144A fusion, concurrent with a Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (HIP1)-ALK fusion and a RB1 loss-of-function variant. The patient sequentially received multiple lines of treatment with ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), chemotherapy, radiotherapy and ALK-TKI combined with anti-angiogenesis. Disease progression accompanied by a squamous cell carcinoma transformation was indicated after ALK-TKI combined with anti-angiogenesis and both ALK-RNF144A and HIP1-ALK fusions were retained in the tumor. The patient was subsequently treated with a third generation ALK-TKI, lorlatinib, in combination with albumin-bound paclitaxel and anlotinib, and then achieved stable disease. The patient remained on the treatment as of the last follow-up resulting in an overall survival (OS) of more than 18 months. Conclusions We have reported an advanced NSCLC patient with a complex nonreciprocal/reciprocal ALK translocation containing a novel ALK-RNF144A fusion, concurrent with a RB1 loss-of-function mutation, who subsequently experienced pathological squamous cell carcinoma transformation. The combined treatment with ALK-TKI, chemotherapy, and anti-angiogenesis demonstrates clinical efficacy and may provide optional therapeutic strategies for this phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Translational Oncology Research Lab, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics for Lung Cancer, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Medical Thoracic Oncology, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Shaowei Lan
- Translational Oncology Research Lab, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics for Lung Cancer, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Rui Zhong
- Translational Oncology Research Lab, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics for Lung Cancer, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Yanan Cui
- Department of Medical Thoracic Oncology, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Petros Christopoulos
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Erin L. Schenk
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Takaaki Sasaki
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine and Neurology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Ying Cheng
- Translational Oncology Research Lab, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics for Lung Cancer, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
- Department of Medical Thoracic Oncology, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
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Chen Q, Zhang J, Wang X, Zong W, Sun L, Qin J, Yin Y. Two case reports: EML4-ALK rearrangement large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and literature review. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1227980. [PMID: 38023218 PMCID: PMC10646488 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1227980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) rearrangement is present in only approximately 5% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and is scarce in LCNEC patients. The conventional first-line treatment options are chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy or chemotherapy followed by palliative radiotherapy. In this report, we present two cases of metastatic LCNEC with EML4-ALK fusion that were treated with ALK-TKI inhibitors and demonstrated a rapid therapeutic response. Both patients were nonsmoking women who declined cytotoxic chemotherapy, underwent Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and confirmed EML4-ALK fusion. They were treated with alectinib as first-line therapy, and the tumors showed significant shrinkage after two months, achieving a PR (defined as a more than 30% decrease in the sum of maximal dimensions). The PFS was 22 months and 32 months, respectively, until the last follow-up. A systematic review of all previously reported cases of LCNEC with ALK mutations identified only 21 cases. These cases were characterized by being female (71.4%), nonsmoking (85.7%), diagnosed at a relatively young age (median age 51.1), and stage IV (89.5%), with an overall response rate (ORR) of 90.5%. PFS and OS were significantly longer than those treated with conventional chemotherapy/immunotherapy. Based on the clinical characteristics and the effective therapeutic outcomes with ALK inhibitors in LCNEC patients with ALK fusion, we recommend routine ALK IHC (economical, affordable, and convenient, but with higher false positives) as a screening method in advanced LCNEC patients, particularly nonsmoking females or those who are not candidates for or unwilling to undergo cytotoxic chemotherapy. Further molecular profiling is necessary to confirm these potential beneficiaries. We suggest TKI inhibitors as the first-line treatment for metastatic LCNEC with ALK fusion. Additional studies on larger cohorts are required to assess the prevalence of ALK gene fusions and their sensitivity to various ALK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenkang Zong
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Leina Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianwen Qin
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Yin
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Kobayashi T, Uehara Y, Watanabe K, Hishima T, Hosomi Y. Successful Treatment of ALK-Positive Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung With Sequential ALK Inhibitors: A Case Report. JTO Clin Res Rep 2023; 4:100538. [PMID: 37456922 PMCID: PMC10345342 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2023.100538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
ALK-positive large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is an exceptionally rare form of lung cancer. The efficacy of ALK inhibitors in treating ALK-positive LCNEC remains unclear. Here, we report a case of ALK-positive LCNEC of the lung, which revealed a sustained clinical benefit (24+ mo of overall survival) after treatment with sequential ALK inhibitors and local therapies. This remarkable improvement in survival underscores the importance of testing metastatic LCNEC for biomarkers, such as ALK rearrangement, using immunohistochemistry or next-generation sequencing, especially in younger patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Kobayashi
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Uehara
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kageaki Watanabe
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsunekazu Hishima
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukio Hosomi
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
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