ROS1 in Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer—Combined Immunotherapy (PD1/CTLA4) or Targeted Therapy?

ROS1 oncogenic fusion is reported to be 1% - 2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) of the adenocarcinoma subgroup. Meanwhile, there are no records of squamous cell cancer patients with tumors harboring ROS1 fusions. The Foundation Medicine database indicates a frequency of ROS1 rearrangements is 0.2% among squamous NSCLC. Crizotinib is known to be very effective in these patients. Here we present a non-smoker patient who had pure squamous NSCLC that was treated by combinational immunotherapy under a clinical trial and progressed after 2 cycles. Surprisingly, comprehensive genomic profiling detected a rare oncogenic EZR-ROS1 fusion, and the patient was treated by crizotinib with a significant response within 6 weeks. To date, the patient has been on therapy for 42 months and has achieved a complete metabolic response.

Better Selection Model for EML4-ALK Fusion Gene Test in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background: In the last decade, the search for gene mutations in lung cancer has been constantly growing. EGFR, KRAS mutations and, recently, the EML4-ALK fusion can guide the selection of treatment for patients who carry a specific mutation. Methods: During 2010-2011, EML4-ALK fusion test has been performed in Israel, mostly for wild type EGFR non-squamous NSCLC patients based on fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) technique to detect EML4-ALK rearrangements. Results: Between January 2010 and December 2011, 3341 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer in Israel. Of the 2997 patients with NSCLC 687 had squamous cell carcinoma and 2310 had non-squamous NSCLC. This study focused on available 125 non-squamous NSCLC cases in which analysis for EML4-ALK rearrangement was available. All were negative for EGFR mutation. Nineteen (15.2%) were found positive for the fusion, a figure 2 - 10 times higher compared with previously reported findings. The EML4-ALK fusion was significantly more prevalent in younger male patients (52.1 vs. 61.3 years, p = 0.049), in whom every additional year reduced the chance to find the fusion by 7% [CI = 0.93 (0.88 - 0.99), p = 0.03]. Conclusions: A stepwise approach based on histology and prior EGFR analysis to detect EML4-ALK fusion is highly efficient with a related increased yield of detection. We recommend testing patients with non-squamous cell lung carcinoma after ruling out an EGFR mutation. The chance to find the ALK fusion is significantly greater in younger men.