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Seiji Yano



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    OA02 - A New Vision of Targets and Strategies (ID 120)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Oral Session
    • Track: Targeted Therapy
    • Presentations: 1
    • Now Available
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      OA02.01 - Alectinib in Previously Treated RET-Rearranged Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase 1/2 Trial (ALL-RET) (Now Available) (ID 1651)

      10:30 - 12:00  |  Author(s): Seiji Yano

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background

      RET rearrangements occur in 1–2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Alectinib (300 mg twice daily) has been approved for the treatment of ALK-rearranged NSCLC in Japan; it also has a high activity against RET in vitro. A global trial (ALEX study) showed the efficacy and safety of alectinib (600 mg twice daily) in ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients. We conducted a phase 1/2 study of alectinib to establish the recommended dose (RD) and examined its activity in RET-rearranged Japanese NSCLC patients.

      Method

      This study was a single-arm, open-label, multi-institutional phase 1/2 trial. RET-rearranged NSCLC patients treated with at least one regimen of chemotherapy were recruited. RET rearrangements were screened using LC-SCRUM-Japan, a nationwide genomic screening network. In phase 1, alectinib (600 or 450 mg twice daily) was administered, following a 3 + 3 design. The primary endpoint was safety. During phase 2, alectinib at the RD defined in phase 1 was administered. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate in RET inhibitor-naïve patients.

      Result

      Between March 8, 2016 and January 29, 2018, 35 patients were enrolled, and 34 patients were administered alectinib. KIF5B-RET was the most common fusion gene (22 cases [63%]), and the CCDC6-RET fusion was identified in 8 cases. The remaining 5 cases were not distinguishable. In cohort 1 (600 mg twice daily), we observed 5 DLTs (grade 3 rash, increased aspartate aminotransferase, erythema multiforme, thromboembolic event, and increased CPK) in 3 of 6 patients. In accordance with the protocol, we moved to cohort 2 (450 mg twice daily) and observed no DLTs in 3 patients. Additionally, pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that the mean exposure (AUC0–10) of 600 mg twice daily was higher than that previously reported in AF-002JG trial (global phase 1 study). Therefore, we determined 450 mg twice daily as the RD for phase 2. Twenty-five RET inhibitor-naïve patients were treated with the RD, of whom 1 achieved an objective response (4%) and 13 achieved disease control at 8 weeks (52%) as determined by central review. The median progression-free survival was 3.4 months (95% CI 2.0-5.4), and the median overall survival was 19.0 months (5.4-NE). We observed grade 3 neutropenia, pneumonitis, diarrhea, hyponatremia, increased CPK and blood bilirubin (4%) in patients treated with 450 mg alectinib twice daily; no grade 4 adverse events were observed.

      Conclusion

      Alectinib had limited activity in patients with RET-rearranged NSCLC. Further investigation of new targeted therapeutics is required to improve outcomes for these patients.

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    P1.14 - Targeted Therapy (ID 182)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Targeted Therapy
    • Presentations: 1
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/08/2019, 09:45 - 18:00, Exhibit Hall
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      P1.14-35 - Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition Is a Mechanism of ALK Inhibitor Resistance in Lung Cancer Independent of ALK Mutation Status (ID 671)

      09:45 - 18:00  |  Author(s): Seiji Yano

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background

      ALK rearrangement, most commonly EML4-ALK, is detected in approximately 3%–5% of NSCLC. ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), shows dramatic clinical efficacy, however, almost all patients acquire resistance over time. The most defined mechanism of crizotinib resistance is secondary ALK mutations. A recent study reported that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT) and ALK resistance mutation were simultaneously detected in a single tumor lesion in patients with ALK-rearranged lung cancer who were resistant to ALK-TKIs. However, it is still unknown whether ALK-TKI resistant tumor cells combine mesenchymal phenotype with ALK resistance mutation, or each of the mesenchymal type tumor cells and ALK resistance mutation–positive cells coexist in a single lesion. In any of these cases, no therapy for EMT-associated targeted drug resistance has yet been established.

      Method

      Specimens from a patient with ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma who acquired resistance to crizotinib were stained with IHC, and the epithelial regions (ALK+, vimentin+, and E-cadherin) and the mesenchymal regions (ALK+, vimentin, and E-cadherin+) were collected by microdissection. The DNA from the each regions were isolated and the ALK L1196M mutation was detected by degital PCR analysis. Crizotinib-resistant cell line was developed by continuous treatment with crizotinib in the pleural carcinomatosis mouse model inoculated with the crizotinib-sensitive human lung cancer cell line, A925LPE3, which harbors the EML4-ALK gene fusion. The clones were estabilish by limiting dilution and the mechanism of crizotinib resistance was examined by microarray analysis, miRNA array analysis, western blot, and MTT assay. Compounds that overcame crizotinib resistance were screened from a library of 200 kinase inhibitors.

      Result

      Digital PCR analyses combined with microdissection after IHC staining for EMT markers revealed that ALK L1196M was predominantly detected in epithelial-type tumor cells, indicating that mesenchymal phenotype and ALK mutation can coexist as independent mechanisms underlying ALK inhibitor–resistant cancers. Preclinical experiments with crizotinib-resistant lung cancer cells showed that EMT associated with decreased expression of miR-200c and increased expression of ZEB1 caused cross-resistance to new-generation ALK inhibitors alectinib, ceritinib, and lorlatinib. Moreover, pretreatment with the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor quisinostat overcame this resistance by reverting EMT in vitro and in vivo.

      Conclusion

      These findings indicate that HDAC inhibitor pretreatment followed by a new ALK inhibitor may be useful to circumvent resistance constituted by coexistence of resistance mutations and EMT in the heterogeneous tumor.

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    P2.14 - Targeted Therapy (ID 183)

    • Event: WCLC 2019
    • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
    • Track: Targeted Therapy
    • Presentations: 1
    • Moderators:
    • Coordinates: 9/09/2019, 10:15 - 18:15, Exhibit Hall
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      P2.14-56 - Osimertinib Overcomes Alectinib Resistance Caused by Amphiregulin in a Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis Model of EML4-ALK Lung Cancer (ID 1543)

      10:15 - 18:15  |  Author(s): Seiji Yano

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Background

      Central nervous system (CNS) metastasis, such as brain metastasis and leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC), occurs in 20–40% of all patients with cancer. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a clinically validated drug target and ALK rearrangements are found in approximately 3-5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) shows dramatic clinical efficacy in ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients, and the second-generation ALK-TKI alectinib is effective against CNS metastasis of ALK-rearranged NSCLC. However, the patients with ALK-rearrangement acquire resistance to alectinib over time and develop recurrent LMC metastasis. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism of resistance to alectinib in LMC and seek a novel therapeutic strategy.

      Method

      Alectinib-resistant cell line (A925L/AR) was established by continuous treatment with alectinib in the LMC mouse model inoculated with the alectinib-sensitive human lung cancer cell line, A925LPE3, which harbors the EML4-ALK gene fusion. The tumor level was measured by in vivo imaging system. To clarify the mechanism of alectinib resistance, tumor cell culture supernatants, patient cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and patient serum were measured using ELISA kits for EGFR ligands.

      Result

      A925L/AR cells were moderately resistant to various ALK-TKIs, such as alectinib, crizotinib, ceritinib, and lorlatinib, compared with parental cells in vitro. A925L/AR cells acquired resistance through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation due to overexpression of its ligand, amphiregulin. EGFR-TKIs and anti-EGFR antibodies re-sensitized A925L/AR cells to alectinib in vitro. In the LMC model with A925L/AR cells, combined treatment with alectinib and an EGFR-TKI, such as erlotinib and osimertinib, successfully controlled LMC progression. Imaging mass spectrometry showed accumulation of EGFR-TKIs in the tumor lesions. Moreover, notably high amphiregulin levels were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid from ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients with alectinib-resistant LMC compared with those in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with EGFR-TKI-resistant LMC or patients without LMC.

      Conclusion

      We demonstrated that EML4-ALK lung cancer cells acquired moderate resistance to alectinib in the leptomeningeal space due to amphiregulin-triggered EGFR activation. Moreover, combined use of alectinib and EGFR-TKIs, including the third-generation inhibitor osimertinib, could overcome resistance in the LMC model. Our findings may provide rationale for clinical trials to investigate the effects of novel therapies dual-targeting ALK and EGFR in ALK-rearranged NSCLC with alectinib-resistant LMC.

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