Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) Kinase Domain Mutation Following ALK Inhibitor(s) Failure in Advanced ALK Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Analysis and Literature Review

Clin Lung Cancer. 2016 Sep;17(5):e77-e94. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2016.03.005. Epub 2016 Mar 30.

Abstract

Background: Secondary anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation may occur in patients with advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer treated with ALK inhibitors, but its nature is not well-known.

Patients and methods: We analyzed tumor specimens after the failure of treatment with ALK inhibitor(s) (crizotinib, alectinib, and ceritinib) for secondary ALK kinase domain mutation, EGFR, K-ras, and PIK3CA mutations. The literature regarding acquired ALK-inhibitor(s) resistance was also reviewed.

Results: Among 59 patients who received ALK inhibitor(s) during the period of December 2010 to April 2015, 7 had re-biopsied tumor specimens for analyses following ALK inhibitor(s) failure. One had G1202R after crizotinib and alectinib failure, and 6 were wild type. No EGFR, K-ras, or PIK3CA mutations were found. In our review of the literature and taken together with our patients, 25 of the 88 (28%) patients with crizotinib failure had secondary ALK mutation; L1196M mutation was most common (n = 11). Patients with secondary ALK mutation other than L1196M had a longer progression-free survival after crizotinib than patients with L1196M (median, 12.0 vs. 7.0 months; P = .04). Of the 9 patients with alectinib failure, 5 had I1171 mutation and 2 had G1202R. Of the 11 patients with ceritinib failure, 2 had G1202R, 1 had F1174C, and 1 had both G1202R and F1174V. I1171 mutation, G1202R, and F1174 mutations were also found in crizotinib-failed patients.

Conclusions: Some acquired ALK mutations may cause co-resistance to other ALK inhibitors. Re-biopsy for ALK mutation analysis might be suggested prior to choosing a second-line ALK inhibitor treatment.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00932451 NCT00932893 NCT01637597 NCT01828099 NCT01685138 NCT01871805.

Keywords: ALK inhibitor resistance; Acquired resistance; Alectinib; Ceritinib; Crizotinib.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Crizotinib
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Sulfones / pharmacology
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Carbazoles
  • Piperidines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Sulfones
  • Crizotinib
  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • ceritinib
  • alectinib

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00932451
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00932893
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01637597
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01828099
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01685138
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01871805