Work

Diagnostic assays for identification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase‐positive non–small cell lung cancer

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: In series dominated by adenocarcinoma histology, approximately 5% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harbor an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement. Crizotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with significant activity against ALK, has demonstrated high response rates and prolonged progression-free survival in ALK-positive patients enrolled in phase 1/2 clinical trials. In 2011, crizotinib received accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of proven ALK-positive NSCLC using an FDA-approved diagnostic test. Currently, only break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization testing is FDA approved as a companion diagnostic for crizotinib; however, many other assays are available or in development. In the current review, the authors summarize the diagnostic tests available, or likely to become available, that could be used to identify patients with ALK-positive NSCLC, highlighting the pros and cons of each.

Source: Cancer

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27913

Authors: Andrew J. Weickhardt, Dara L. Aisner, Wilbur A. Franklin, Marileila Varella‐Garcia, Robert C. Doebele, D. Ross Camidge

Institutions: University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz

Language: English

Topic: Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Cancer Institute