The Activity of Crizotinib in Chemo-Refractory MET-Amplified Esophageal and Gastric Adenocarcinomas: Results from the AcSé-Crizotinib Program

Target Oncol. 2021 May;16(3):381-388. doi: 10.1007/s11523-021-00811-8. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Abstract

Background: The AcSé-crizotinib program provides extensive screening of crizotinib-targeted genomic alteration in several malignancies. We here report the results in patients with esogastric MET-amplified adenocarcinomas.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of crizotinib in patients with pretreated esogastric MET-amplified adenocarcinoma who have no alternative treatment options.

Patients and methods: MET expression was evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization in tumor samples with immunohistochemistry scores ≥ 2+. Patients with chemo-refractory tumors showing ≥ 6 MET copies were eligible for crizotinib 250 mg twice daily. The primary efficacy outcome was the objective response rate after two cycles of crizotinib.

Results: MET was prospectively analyzed in 570 esogastric adenocarcinomas. Amplifications were found in 35/570 adenocarcinomas (29/523 gastric and 6/47 esophageal). Nine patients were treated with crizotinib. The objective response rate after two cycles was 33.3% (95% CI 7.5-70), the best overall response rate was 55.6% (95% CI 21.2-86.3), with median progression-free survival of 3.2 months (95% CI 1.0-5.4), and overall survival of 8.1 months (95% CI 1.7-24.6). Safety was consistent with that previously reported for crizotinib.

Conclusions: Large-scale screening for MET-amplified esogastric adenocarcinomas is feasible. MET amplification was observed in 5.5% of gastric and 12.8% of esophageal adenocarcinomas. Crizotinib shows encouraging results in selected patients. Thus, c-MET inhibition for MET-amplified tumors deserves further evaluation.

Trial registration number: NCT02034981.

Date of registration: 14 January 2014.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Crizotinib / pharmacology
  • Crizotinib / therapeutic use*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Crizotinib

Supplementary concepts

  • Adenocarcinoma Of Esophagus

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02034981