Virtual Library

Start Your Search

B. Crida



Author of

  • +

    P3.11 - Poster Session 3 - NSCLC Novel Therapies (ID 211)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Poster Session
    • Track: Medical Oncology
    • Presentations: 1
    • +

      P3.11-041 - Treatment with crizotinib in patients with IV stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ALK translocation: a single institution experience. (ID 2961)

      09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): B. Crida

      • Abstract

      Background
      Crizotinibis is a MET inhibitor, having also an activity on ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) and ROS1 (c-ros oncogene 1) pathways. The ALK translocation is described in 4% of NSCLC and these patients (pts) benefit from crizotinib therapy with a response rate (RR) ranging from 51 to 61%.The drug is already approved by FDA and EMA; in Italy crizotinib is available in first line within controlled clinical trials and, until April 2013, within expanded access program (EAP).

      Methods
      From June 2010 to February 2013, 155 pts with advanced NSCLC were analyzed for Alk translocation using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) at our institution. The selection criteria were: adenocarcinoma histology, never or ex smoker, EGFR status WT. Main pts characteristics were: 59% males, median age 57,5 years (range 26-76), 77 former smoker (76 pts for more than 15 years). Tissue samples were available from primary tumor and metastases in 78 and 22%, respectively, having 73% of cases with cytological material. In 23,2% of the specimens Alk rearrangement was not evaluable due to poor quality and/or quantity issues.

      Results
      Among the 155 pts, 22 (14%) are ALK translocated: 19 were treated within PROFILE clinical trials and 3 patients in the EAP. 20 pts are currently evaluable for response and toxicity: 6 of them received crizotinib as first-line treatment, the others in subsequent lines. The response rate was equal to 70%. The total number of administered cycles is 235.The reduction of the dose (7% of cycles) was necessary in two pts: in 1 case due to bradicardia and fatigue G3 (in first line treatment) and in the other one due to neutropenia G3 (in second line).The observed toxicities were mostly grade 1-2 (fatigue 47%, bradycardia 5,8%, visual disorder 5,8%, anemia 29%, neutropenia 18% and nausea 12%); grade 3-4 was less common. The temporary cessation of treatment was required in 3 pts (range 4-15 days) for grade 3-4 toxicity (mostly neutropenia plus fatigue). No drug interruption for unacceptable toxicity was reported. The most common progression sites were brain (37%) and bone (27%).

      Conclusion
      The introduction of a selection criteria (such as negative EGFR status) leads on an increase of our cases of Alk traslocated pts compared to literature data; this selection is moreover recommended in diagnostic algorithm recently proposed by the Italian Expert Panel (Marchetti A et al, JTO 2013). Efficacy and tolerability profile are consistent with published data.