Author of

• 15382

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  P3.04 - Poster Session/ Biology, Pathology, and Molecular Testing (ID 235)

  • Event: WCLC 2015
  • Type: Poster
  • Track: Biology, Pathology, and Molecular Testing
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 9/09/2015, 09:30 - 17:00, Exhibit Hall (Hall B+C)

  • 15386

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    P3.04-004 - Utility of Cytology Specimens for ALK Fusion Detected by qRT-PCR in Patients of Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (ID 2222)

    09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): C. Wu
    • Abstract

    Background:
    Tumor tissue is the essential specimen for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements detection by the methods of fluorescence in situ hybridization assay(FISH) and immunohistochemistry(IHC). However, a lot of patients could just provide cytological samples but not tumor tissue in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of cytology as an alternative specimen for ALK detection in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
    
    Methods:
    Advanced NSCLC patients with cytology specimens or tumor tissue who had their ALK fusion status detected by qRT-PCR in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University were included into this analysis. The efficacy was evaluated in those with ALK fusion and treated with crizotinib.
    
    Results:
    From December 10[th] 2010 to March 20[th ]2015, 1386 patients entered into this study with 1144 cytology specimens and 242 tumor tissue. Among them, 110 of 1144(9.6%) patients were ALK qRT-PCR positive using cytology specimens to perform detection and 26 of 242(10.7%) patients with tumor tissue were ALK fusion positive. Totally, 69 patients received the treatment of crizotinib. The overall response rate (ORR) of the 50 patients with cytology specimens was 62.0%, which was similar as 52.6% in 19 patients with tissue (p=0.479). Median progression free survival (mPFS) was 8.3 months (95% CI 6.91-9.75) in the cytology specimens group, which was also similar as 5.2 months (95% CI 2.58-7.82) (p=0.604) in the tissue group.
    
    Conclusion:
    Cytology specimens showed a high feasibility to perform ALK fusion status detection by qRT-PCR and a similar response to ALK inhibitor as tissue specimens, which might be regarded as alternative specimens for ALK detection in patients of advanced NSCLC.