Fusions in a Wide Variety of Tumor Types Respond to Anti-ALK Targeted Therapy.

Background: Genomic fusions of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene () are a well-established therapy target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From a survey of 114,200 clinical cases, we determined the prevalence of rearrangements (r) in non-NSCLC tumors and report their responsiveness to therapies targeting ALK.

Materials And Methods: Comprehensive genomic profiling of 114,200 relapsed and metastatic malignancies, including both solid tumors and hematolymphoid cancers, was performed using a hybrid-capture, adaptor ligation-based next-generation sequencing assay.

Symptom and quality of life benefit of afatinib in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients previously treated with erlotinib or gefitinib: results of a randomized phase IIb/III trial (LUX-Lung 1).

Background: Patient-reported symptom and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) benefit of afatinib, a novel, irreversible, ErbB Family Blocker, was investigated in a double-blind, randomized, phase IIb/III trial (LUX-Lung 1).

Methods: Five hundred and eighty-five patients with lung adenocarcinoma (stage IIIb/IV), who had progressed after chemotherapy (1-2 lines) and at least 12 weeks of erlotinib or gefitinib, were randomized (2:1) to receive either afatinib plus best supportive care (BSC) or placebo plus BSC. Symptom and HRQoL benefit were measured using the lung cancer-specific European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (QLQ-C30/LC13) and EuroQol (EQ-5D) questionnaires.