Dramatic response to crizotinib in a breast cancer patient with ALK gene rearrangement

Anticancer Drugs. 2022 Apr 1;33(4):400-405. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001272.

Abstract

Rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene are present in 3-5% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while it was 0.2% in NSCLC tumors. Due to its low frequency, it is extremely challenging to conduct randomized clinical trials of ALK-targeted therapies in NSCLC tumors. In the present case, we describe the first reported case of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) harboring the ALK fusion mutation that responded to ALK-targeted therapy after progression with two lines of chemotherapy. Searching for ALK gene rearrangement or other fusion, especially in patients with chemotherapy-resistant TNBC, opens the door to new treatment strategies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Crizotinib / therapeutic use
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / genetics

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Crizotinib
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases