Favorable response to crizotinib in three patients with echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion-type oncogene-positive non-small cell lung cancer
Takashi Kijima, Kengo Takeuchi, Satoshi Tetsumoto, Kazuki Shimada, Ryo Takahashi, Haruhiko Hirata, Izumi Nagatomo, Shigenori Hoshino, Yoshito Takeda, Hiroshi Kida, Sho Goya, Isao Tachibana, Ichiro Kawase, Takashi Kijima, Kengo Takeuchi, Satoshi Tetsumoto, Kazuki Shimada, Ryo Takahashi, Haruhiko Hirata, Izumi Nagatomo, Shigenori Hoshino, Yoshito Takeda, Hiroshi Kida, Sho Goya, Isao Tachibana, Ichiro Kawase
Abstract
The echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a recently identified fusion-type oncoprotein that exists in approximately 5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It has been demonstrated that NSCLC driven by EML4-ALK is strongly addicted to this fusion-type oncokinase. A clinical trial of crizotinib (PF-02341066) sponsored by Pfizer has proven this oncogene addiction in humans by demonstrating a high response rate to inhibition of ALK kinase activity. In the present study, we report on three cases harboring EML4-ALK rearrangement who were enrolled in the trial (A8081001, NCT00585195). All three patients showed favorable responses to the ALK-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
© 2011 Japanese Cancer Association.
Source: PubMed