Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common primary tumor leading to brain metastases. Multiple genetic markers have been profiled in NSCLC patients for potential targeted therapies. EGFR is mutated in up 50% of NSCLCs, while ALK is mutated in around 4-7%. KRAS is the most commonly overexpressed marker, seen in up to 85% of all lung cancers. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between NSCLCBM patients with KRAS mutations, ALK mutations, EGFR mutations, and wildtype. Conclusions: Molecular mutations serve as both prognostic predictors and alternative targeted therapies for NSCLCBM treatment. Our retrospective study showed improved mOS and mPFS in NSCLCBM patients with ALK rearrangements when compared to patients with EGFR mutations, KRAS mutations, and the wildtype. While these results looked at patient outcomes with specific tumor markers, further investigation needs to be done regarding outcomes..... READ ARTICLE
Journal of Clinical Oncology DOI:10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.e21028
Authors: Yasmeen Rauf, Vineeth Tatineni, Patrick joseph Oshea, Xuefei Jia, David M. Peereboom, Manmeet Singh Ahluwalia
Background: ... We assessed clinical utility of ctDNA NGS for ALK testing for non-Sq-NSCLC in Asia... Conclusions: NGS testing for ALK fusions and genomic alterations in plasma ctDNA has clinical utility in non-Sq-NSCLC patients in guiding ALK targeted treatment at initial diagnosis and upon cancer progression. Detection rate and distribution of ALK fusion partners are comparable to existing data of tumor ALK testing. Further data on ALK treatment outcomes of patients with detectable ALK fusion on plasma ctDNA is warranted. READ ARTICLE
Annals of Oncology DOI:10.1016/j.annonc.2020.10.300
Authors: K. W. C. Lee, S. T. Wu, P. Y. Lo, C. T. Choy, T. C. Kwong, Y. T. N. Lau, L. Lin, S. W. Lau