Brain 17 Vienna

ALK fusion genes

• Found in around 5% of NSCLC

• Encountered more frequently in never smokers, the adenocarcinoma subtype, and in younger patients

• NSCLC patients with ALK rearrangement have improved OS after radiotherapy for brain metastases compared with EGFR or KRAS mutations => Subsequent receipt of targeted therapy is associated with additional improvement in OS

• Crizotinib : first approved ALK inhibitor

Shaw et al. J Clin Oncol 2009 Mak et al. Neuro Oncol 2015 Shaw et al. New Engl J Med 2013