Relevance of Detection of Mechanisms of Resistance to ALK Inhibitors in ALK-Rearranged NSCLC in Routine Practice

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown efficacy in the treatment of ALK-rearranged non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the disease eventually progresses in all patients. In many cases, resistance to ALK TKIs arises through ALK mutations. Although clinical and biological data suggest variations in TKI efficacy according to the mechanism of resistance, ALK mutations are still rarely investigated in routine practice. Conclusion: Targeted next-generation sequencing is suitable for detecting ALK resistance mutations in ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients in routine practice. It might help select the best treatment at the time of disease progression during treatment with an ALK TKI. READ ARTICLE

Clinical Lung Cancer DOI:10.1016/j.cllc.2019.02.013

Authors: Philippe Jamme, Clotilde Descarpentries, Radj Gervais, Eric Dansin, Marie Wislez, Valérie Grégoire, Nicolas Richard, Simon Baldacci, Nathalie Rabbe, Maeva Kyheng, Zoulika Kherrouche, Fabienne Escande, Marie Christine Copin, Alexis B. Cortot