Regardless of the type of cancer, in those with the fusion of the NTRK gene, the targeted drug larotrectinib demonstrated high response rates that have been sustained for over four years. The data comes from three studies conducted in a total of 206 adult and pediatric patients, with 21 different types of solid tumors – both central nervous system, primary or metastatic, and lung – all with this same genetic alteration. This is the largest group of patients followed for the longest period compared to other drugs of the same class (TRK inhibitors), with a median follow-up of 22.3 months.
Important results. That’s why tests are needed
The results will be presented to the next American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, to be held online June 4-8, 2021, and show a median response duration of 49.3 months. The overall response rate to therapy was 75%, with 22% (45 patients) complete responses. In evaluable patients with brain metastases (15), the overall response rate was 73%. The safety profile is in line with what was previously reported. The majority of reported treatment-related adverse events were Grade 1 or 2. “These data confirm and strengthen the clinical profile of larotrectinib, supporting its use as an effective treatment option in adults and children with NTRK fusion tumors.” , said David S. Hong, Professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center: “They represent a clear rationale for subjecting cancer patients to a comprehensive genomic test that includes finding fusions of NTRK 1/2/3 genes. , to better understand what the tumor driver gene is and associate it with the right treatment “.
Data for lung cancer and pediatric patients
NTRK fusion tumor occurs when one NTRK gene fuses with another unrelated gene. Larotrectinib is a highly selective TRK inhibitor, which has been designed exclusively to treat tumors with this alteration. Overall, intra-patient comparisons indicated that the majority of patients with TRK fusion tumors experienced significant clinical benefit with larotrectinib compared with their previous line of therapy.
For lung cancers, updated data from pretreated adult patients (who had received a median of three previous therapies) show that larotrectinib is active and provides rapid and lasting responses, with a sustained survival benefit and a favorable safety profile. long-term. Among the 15 evaluable patients, the confirmed overall response was 73%, and 63% in the 8 patients with CNS metastases.
In addition, larotrectinib was evaluated in 33 pediatric and adult patients with primary CNS tumors: the overall response was 30%, with a reduction in tumor volume in 82% of patients with measurable disease. The disease control rate at 24 weeks was 73% and progression-free survival was 18.3 months.
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