Early identification of disease progression in ALK-rearranged lung cancer using circulating tumor DNA analysis

Targeted kinase inhibitors improve the prognosis of lung cancer patients with ALK alterations (ALK+). However, due to the emergence of acquired resistance and varied clinical trajectories, early detection of disease progression is warranted to guide patient management and therapy decisions. We utilized 343 longitudinal plasma DNA samples from 43 ALK+ NSCLC patients receiving ALK-directed therapies to determine molecular progression based on matched panel-based targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), and shallow whole-genome sequencing (sWGS). ALK-related alterations were detected in 22 out of 43 (51%) patients. Among 343 longitudinal plasma samples analyzed, 174 (51%) were ctDNA-positive. ALK variant and fusion kinetics generally reflected the disease course. Evidence for early molecular progression was observed in 19 patients (44%). Detection of ctDNA at therapy baseline indicated shorter times to progression compared to cases without mutations at baseline. In patients who succumb..... READ ARTICLE

Nature Profolio Journal: Precision Oncology DOI:10.1038/s41698-021-00239-3

Authors: Angeles, A.K., Christopoulos, P., Yuan, Z., Bauer, S., Janke, F., Ogrodnik, S.J., Reck, M., Schlesner, M., Meister, M., Schneider, M.A., Dietz, S., Stenzinger, A., Thomas, M. and Sültmann, H.

Real-World Outcomes, group1Kirk SmithDecember 7, 2021Cancer genomics, Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ctDNA

Immunotherapy Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Among ALK-Positive Patients With Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Real-world effectiveness (rwPFS) of ICIs in ALK-positive NSCLC patients, whether provided before or after TKIs, was limited, underscoring the relative lack of efficacy of ICI in this patient population, particularly compared to approved ALK TKIs. READ ARTICLE

Clinical Lung Cancer DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2020.08.003

Authors: Mohammad Jahanzeb, Huamao M.Lin, Xiaoyun Pan, Yu Yin, Pia Baumann, Corey J. Langer

Real-World OutcomesKirk SmithJanuary 1, 2021Cancer genomics, next-generation sequencing, Resistance, Targeted therapy, Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)