Cited 4 times since 2019 (0.9 per year) source: EuropePMC Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Volume 138, 3 1 2019, Pages 13-18 ALK immunohistochemistry positive, FISH negative NSCLC is infrequent, but associated with impaired survival following treatment with crizotinib. Thunnissen E, Lissenberg-Witte BI, van den Heuvel MM, Monkhorst K, Skov BG, Sørensen JB, Mellemgaard A, Dingemans AMC, Speel EJM, de Langen AJ, Hashemi SMS, Bahce I, van der Drift MA, Looijen-Salamon MG, Gosney J, Postmus PE, Samii SMS, Duplaquet F, Weynand B, Durando X, Penault-Llorca F, Finn S, Grady AO, Oz B, Akyurek N, Buettner R, Wolf J, Bubendorf L, Duin S, Marondel I, Heukamp LC, Timens W, Schuuring EMD, Pauwels P, Smit EF

Objective

Metastasized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement is usually sensitive to a range of ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. ALK-positive NSCLC have been identified in pivotal phase III trials with fluorescence in situ hybridization (ALK FISH+). These tumors are also expressing the fusion product (ALK immunohistochemistry (IHC)+). However, discrepant cases occur, including ALK IHC + FISH-. The aim of this study was to collect ALK IHC + cases and compare within this group response to crizotinib treatment of ALK FISH + cases with ALK FISH- cases.

Materials and methods

In this European prospective multicenter research study patients with Stage IV ALK IHC + NSCLC treated with crizotinib were enrolled. Tumor slides were validated centrally for ALK IHC and ALK FISH.

Results

Registration of 3523 ALK IHC tests revealed a prevalence of 2.7% (n = 94) ALK IHC + cases. Local ALK FISH analysis resulted in 48 concordant (ALK IHC+/FISH+) and 16 discordant (ALK IHC+/FISH-) cases. Central validation revealed 37 concordant and 7 discordant cases, 5 of which had follow-up. Validation was hampered by limited amount of tissue in biopsy samples. The PFS at 1 year for ALK concordant and discordant was 58% and 20%, respectively (HR = 2.4; 95% CI: 0.78-7.3; p = 0.11). Overall survival was significantly better for concordant cases than discordant cases after central validation (HR=4.5; 95% CI= 1.2-15.9; p=0.010.

Conclusion

ALK IHC + FISH- NSCLC is infrequent and associated with a worse outcome on personalized treatment. A suitable predictive testing strategy may be to screen first with IHC and then confirm with FISH instead of considering ALK IHC equivalent to ALK FISH according to the current guidelines.

Lung Cancer. 2019 10;138:13-18