Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Harboring ALK Translocations: Clinical Characteristics and Management in a Real-Life Setting: a French Retrospective Analysis (GFPC 02–14 Study)

• Published in: Targeted oncology 2017-12, Vol.12 (6), p.833-838
• Main Authors: Auliac, Jean-Bernard, Monnet, Isabelle, Dubos-Arvis, Catherine, Chiappa, Anne Marie, Baize, Nathalie, Bota, Suzana, Vergnenegre, Alain, Doubre, Helene, Locher, Chrystele, Bizieux, Acya, Robinet, Gilles, Chouaid, Christos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedicine; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - enzymology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - genetics; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Chemotherapy; Female; France; Humans; Kinases; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - enzymology; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Medical prognosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oncology; Prognosis; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics; Retrospective Studies; Short Communication; Targeted cancer therapy; Translocation, Genetic
• ISSN: 1776-2596; 1776-260X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11523-017-0520-7

Background Chromosomal translocations involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene ( ALK ) are rare oncogenic events found in 3–5% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Limited data have been published on the management of these patients outside clinical trials. Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and management of patients with NSCLC harboring ALK translocations ( ALK +) in a real-life setting in France. Methods This multicenter, observational, retrospective study included all NSCLC patients harboring ALK translocations diagnosed in participating centers between January 2012 and December 2014. Patient data include clinical characteristics, disease management, and outcomes [progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)]. Results The 31 participating centers reported data on 132 patients, of whom 51% ( n  = 67) were male. The median age was 60.1 ± 14.5 (standard deviation) years; 89% ( n  = 106/119) had performance status 0/1 at diagnosis; 79% ( n  = 103/130) were non- or former smokers; 93% ( n  = 120/129) had adenocarcinomas and 74%( n  = 97)/19%( n  = 25)/7%( n  = 10) had disease stages IV/III/I-II at diagnosis, respectively; co-mutations included EGFR ( n  = 2), BRAF ( n  = 2), KRAS ( n  = 1), and HER2 ( n  = 1). Of the patients with stage IV NSCLC ( n  = 97), 96% received first-line treatment [75% chemotherapy-based, 21% ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)], with an associated response rate (RR), disease-control rate (DCR), and PFS of 42%, 64%, and 7.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.9–9.5] months, respectively; 62% received second-line treatment (28% chemotherapy, 72% ALK TKI) with an associated RR, DCR, and PFS of 43.4%, 70%, and 4.7 (95% CI 4.0–8.1) months, respectively. The 2-year OS was 56.7% (95% CI 45.5–70.4%); median OS was not reached. Conclusion The results of this real-life analysis suggest that the prognosis of NSCLC patients with the ALK translocation may be better than that of the overall NSCLC population, but the outcomes were poorer than those of ALK + NSCLC patients included in clinical studies.