Anna Wrona

ASCEND-8: A Randomized Phase 1 Study of Ceritinib, 450 mg or 600 mg, Taken with a Low-Fat Meal versus 750 mg in Fasted State in Patients with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-Rearranged Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Introduction: Ceritinib, 750 mg fasted, is approved for treatment of patients with ALK receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ALK)‐rearranged (ALK‐positive) NSCLC previously treated with crizotinib. Part 1 of the ASCEND‐8 study determined whether administering ceritinib, 450 mg or 600 mg, with a low‐fat meal may enhance gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability versus 750 mg fasted in patients with ALK‐positive NSCLC while maintaining similar exposure. Methods: ASCEND‐8 is a multicenter, randomized, open‐label, phase 1 study. Part 1 investigated the steady‐state pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of ceritinib, 450 mg or 600 mg, taken with a low‐fat meal versus 750 mg fasted in patients with advanced ALK‐positive NSCLC who were either treatment naive or pretreated with chemotherapy and/or crizotinib. Part 2 will assess efficacy and safety of ceritinib in treatment‐naive patients. Results: As of June 16, 2016, 137 patients were randomized (450 mg fed [n = 44], 600 mg fed [n = 47], and 750 mg fasted [n = 46]); 135 patients received ceritinib. Median follow‐up duration was 4.14 months. At steady state, relative to 750 mg fasted, 450 mg with food demonstrated comparable PK as assessed by maximum (peak) concentration of drug in plasma and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to 24 hours, whereas 600 mg with food demonstrated approximately 25% higher PK. Relative to 750 mg fasted, 450 mg with food was associated with a lower proportion of patients with GI toxicities, mostly grade 1 (diarrhea [43.2%], nausea [29.5%], and vomiting [18.2%]); there were no grade 3 or 4 events, study drug discontinuations, or serious AEs due to GI toxicities. Conclusion: Ceritinib, 450 mg with food, had similar exposure and a more favorable GI safety profile than ceritinib, 750 mg in fasted patients with ALK‐positive NSCLC.

An Activating KIT Mutation Induces Crizotinib Resistance in ROS1-Positive Lung Cancer

Introduction: Patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring ROS proto‐oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ROS1) chromosomal rearrangements benefit from treatment with the ROS1 inhibitor crizotinib. Limited data exist on the spectrum of resistance mechanisms in ROS1‐positive NSCLC. To delineate mechanisms of acquired resistance, we analyzed biopsy samples of tumor lesions that progressed while patients were receiving crizotinib. Methods: An activating mutation in the KIT proto‐oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) (p.D816G) was identified by SNaPshot sequencing in a tumor sample from a patient with ROS1‐positive NSCLC identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization whose disease progressed after initial response to crizotinib. In vitro studies included evaluation of KIT mRNA expression by quantitative reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reactions, transduction of Ba/F3 cells and NSCLC cell lines with KIT‐expressing lentiviral plasmids, immunoblotting, and cellular proliferation assays. Results: KITD816G is an activating mutation that induces autophosphorylation and cell proliferation. Expression of the mutant KITD816G receptor in ROS1‐positive NSCLC cell lines led to constitutively activated KIT as measured by phosphorylation of the KIT receptor. Expression of the KITD816G rendered the HCC78 and CUTO2 cell lines resistant to crizotinib, and only dual inhibition of ROS1 and KIT with crizotinib and ponatinib could resensitize the cells to inhibition of proliferation. The oncogenic switch observed in ROS1‐positive cell lines was not immediate and required pharmacologic inactivation of ROS1. Conclusions: Activation of KIT by a gain‐of‐function somatic mutation is a novel mechanism of resistance to crizotinib in ROS1‐rearranged NSCLC. This bypass signaling pathway serves as a ROS1‐independent mechanism of resistance, similarly to previously identified epidermal growth factor receptor or Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog/neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog signaling pathways, and can potentially be targeted by KIT inhibitors.

Lungscape: resected non-small-cell lung cancer outcome by clinical and pathological parameters.

Introduction: The Lungscape project was designed to address the impact of clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics on outcome in resected non–small- cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: A decentralized biobank with fully annotated tissue samples was established. Selection criteria for participating centers included sufficient number of cases, tissue microarray building capability, and documented ethical approval. Patient selection was based on availability of comprehensive clinical data, radical resection between 2003 and 2009 with adequate follow-up, and adequate quantity and quality of formalin-fixed tissue. Results: Fifteen centers contributed 2449 cases. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 69.6% and 63.6% for stages IA and IB, 51.6% and 47.7% for stages IIA and IIB, and 29.0% and 13.0% for stages IIIA and IIIB, respectively (p < 0.001). Median and 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) were 52.8 months and 47.3%, respectively. Distant relapse was recorded for 44.4%, local for 26.0%, and both for 16.9% of patients. Based on multivariate analysis for the OS, RFS, and time to relapse, the factors significantly associated with all of them are performance status and pathological stage. Conclusion: The aim of this report is to present the results from Lungscape, the first large series reporting on NSCLC surgical outcome measured not only by OS but also by RFS and time to relapse and including multivariate analysis by significant clinical and pathological prognostic parameters. As tissue from all patients is preserved locally and is available for detailed molecular investigations, Lungscape provides an excellent basis to evaluate the influence of molecular parameters on the disease outcome after radical resection, besides providing an overview of the molecular landscape of stage I to III NSCLC.

Prevalence and clinical association of gene mutations through multiplex mutation testing in patients with NSCLC: Results from the ETOP Lungscape Project

Background Reported prevalence of driver gene mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is highly variable and clinical correlations are emerging. Using NSCLC biomaterial and clinical data from the European Thoracic Oncology Platform Lungscape iBiobank, we explore the epidemiology of mutations and association to clinicopathologic features and patient outcome (relapse-free survival, time-to-relapse, overall survival). Methods Clinically annotated, resected stage I-III NSCLC FFPE tissue was assessed for gene mutation using a microfluidics-based multiplex PCR platform. Mutant-allele detection sensitivity is >1% for most of the ∼150 (13 genes) mutations covered in the multiplex test. Results Multiplex testing has been carried out in 2063 (76.2%) of the 2709 Lungscape cases (median follow-up 4.8 years). FFPE samples mostly date from 2005 to 2008, yet recently extracted DNA quality and quantity was generally good. Average DNA yield/case was 2.63 µg; 38 cases (1.4%) failed QC and were excluded from study; 95.1% of included cases allowed the complete panel of mutations to be tested. Most common were KRAS, MET, EGFR and PIK3CA mutations with overall prevalence of 23.0%, 6.8%, 5.4% and 4.9%, respectively. KRAS and EGFR mutations were significantly more frequent in adenocarcinomas: PIK3CA in squamous cell carcinomas. MET mutation prevalence did not differ between histology groups. EGFR mutations were found predominantly in never smokers; KRAS in current/former smokers. For all the above mutations, there was no difference in outcome between mutated and non-mutated cases. Conclusion Archival FFPE NSCLC material is adequate for multiplex mutation analysis. In this large, predominantly European, clinically annotated stage I-III NSCLC cohort, none of the mutations characterized showed prognostic significance.

Management of brain metastases in non-small cell lung cancer in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Lung cancer represents the most common cause of brain dissemination. Oncogene-addicted (EGFR- and ALK-positive) non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) are characterized by a unique metastatic neurotropism resulting in a particularly high incidence of brain metastases. The goal of optimal brain metastases management is to improve both overall survival and quality of life, with the focus on neurocognitive function preservation. Neurosurgery is offered to patients presenting with limited intracranial tumor burden located in surgically accessible un-eloquent regions of the brain, whereas stereotactic radiosurgery represents the preferred radiotherapy option for patients not amenable to surgery. Whole brain radiotherapy, owing to its neurocognitive sequelae, should be reserved for patients with multiple lesions. EGFR and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) provide significantly superior systemic response rates and progression-free survival compared to standard chemotherapy in the molecularly defined NSCLC subpopulations. An apparent intracranial activity of new generation TKIs triggered the discussion on their role in brain metastases in lieu of local therapies. The aim of this review is to summarize the current therapeutic landscape of brain metastases management in NSCLC, with a particular focus on EGFR-mutated and ALK-rearranged NSCLC subtypes.

Alectinib versus crizotinib in treatment-naïve anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small-cell lung cancer: CNS efficacy results from the ALEX study

Abstract Background The phase III ALEX study in patients with treatment-naive advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase mutation-positive (ALK+) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) met its primary end point of improved progression-free survival (PFS) with alectinib versus crizotinib. Here, we present detailed central nervous system (CNS) efficacy data from ALEX. Patients and methods Overall, 303 patients aged ≥18 years underwent 1:1 randomization to receive twice-daily doses of alectinib 600 mg or crizotinib 250 mg. Brain imaging was conducted in all patients at baseline and every subsequent 8 weeks. End points (analyzed by subgroup: patients with/without baseline CNS metastases; patients with/without prior radiotherapy) included PFS, CNS objective response rate (ORR), and time to CNS progression. Results In total, 122 patients had Independent Review Committee-assessed baseline CNS metastases (alectinib, n = 64; crizotinib, n = 58), 43 had measurable lesions (alectinib, n = 21; crizotinib, n = 22), and 46 had received prior radiotherapy (alectinib, n = 25; crizotinib, n = 21). Investigator-assessed PFS with alectinib was consistent between patients with baseline CNS metastases [hazard ratio (HR) 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25–0.64] and those without (HR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.33–0.80, P interaction = 0.36). Similar results were seen in patients regardless of prior radiotherapy. Time to CNS progression was significantly longer with alectinib versus crizotinib and comparable between patients with and without baseline CNS metastases (P < 0.0001). CNS ORR was 85.7% with alectinib versus 71.4% with crizotinib in patients who received prior radiotherapy and 78.6% versus 40.0%, respectively, in those who had not. Conclusion Alectinib demonstrated superior CNS activity and significantly delayed CNS progression versus crizotinib in patients with previously untreated, advanced ALK+ NSCLC, irrespective of prior CNS disease or radiotherapy. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02075840