Preselection Based on Clinical Characteristics in German Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Screened for EML4-ALK Translocation

摘要: Background: The advent of multiple molecular targets in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has brought new treatments, but also logistic and technical considerations, to the clinician. small size endoscopic biopsies increasing number relevant uncommon markers increased need for rational approaches testing. We present results clinical preselection before EML4-ALK testing a German NSCLC cohort. Methods: Patients with stage IV were included. Clinicians encouraged consider screening epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type adenocarcinoma patients limited smoking history, relatively young age, or who had benefited from chemotherapy long period. Break-apart fluorescence situ hybridization using archived paraffin tissue was performed central facility. Results: From April 2010 September 2011 we included 61 patients: mean age 56.6 years, 41% women, 90% adenocarcinoma, 5% large-cell, squamous cell cancers. Only three activating mutations; 16.4% positive fusion. anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive 60% tended be younger, smoked less, received significantly more systemic therapy, on average 3.7 lines treatment over 3 ALK-testing compared ALK-negative patients. Long periods progression-free survival experienced by ALK-positive treated pemetrexed, vinorelbine, cetuximab. Conclusions: fusion is uncommon, reported about patients; however, yield 16.4%. seem have distinct features show responses therapies.