Abstract
Oncogenic ALK fusions occur in several types of cancer and can be effectively treated with ALK inhibitors; however, ALK fusions and treatment response have not been characterized in malignant melanomas. Recently, a novel isoform of ALK (ALKATI) was reported in 11% of melanomas but the response of melanomas expressing ALKATI to ALK inhibition has not been well characterized. We analyzed 45 melanoma patientderived xenograft models for ALK mRNA and protein expression. ALK expression was identified in 11 of 45 (24.4%) melanomas. Ten melanomas express wild-type (wt) ALK and/or ALKATI and one mucosal melanoma expresses multiple novel EML4-ALK fusion variants. Melanoma cells expressing different ALK variants were tested for response to ALK inhibitors. Whereas the melanoma expressing EML4-ALK were sensitive to ALK inhibitors in vitro and in vivo, the melanomas expressing wt ALK or ALKATI were not sensitive to ALK inhibitors. In addition, a patient with mucosal melanoma expressing ALKATI was treated with an ALK/ROS1/TRK inhibitor (entrectinib) on a phase I trial but did not respond. Our results demonstrate ALK fusions occur in malignant melanomas and respond to targeted therapy, whereas melanomas expressing ALKATI do not respond to ALK inhibitors. Targeting ALK fusions is an effective therapeutic option for a subset of melanoma patients, but additional clinical studies are needed to determine the efficacy of targeted therapies in melanomas expressing wt ALK or ALKATI.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 222-231 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Molecular Cancer Therapeutics |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 Jan 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Cite this
ALK inhibitor response in melanomas expressing EML4-ALK fusions and alternate ALK isoforms. / Couts, Kasey L.; Bemis, Judson; Turner, Jacqueline A.; Bagby, Stacey M.; Murphy, Danielle; Christiansen, Jason; Hintzsche, Jennifer D.; Le, Anh; Pitts, Todd M.; Wells, Keith; Applegate, Allison; Amato, Carol; Multani, Pratik; Chow-Maneval, Edna; Tentler, John J.; Shellman, Yiqun G.; Rioth, Matthew J.; Tan, Aik-Choon; Gonzalez, Rene; Medina, Theresa; Doebele, Robert C.; Robinson, William A.
In: Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Vol. 17, No. 1, 01.01.2018, p. 222-231.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - ALK inhibitor response in melanomas expressing EML4-ALK fusions and alternate ALK isoforms
AU - Couts, Kasey L.
AU - Bemis, Judson
AU - Turner, Jacqueline A.
AU - Bagby, Stacey M.
AU - Murphy, Danielle
AU - Christiansen, Jason
AU - Hintzsche, Jennifer D.
AU - Le, Anh
AU - Pitts, Todd M.
AU - Wells, Keith
AU - Applegate, Allison
AU - Amato, Carol
AU - Multani, Pratik
AU - Chow-Maneval, Edna
AU - Tentler, John J.
AU - Shellman, Yiqun G.
AU - Rioth, Matthew J.
AU - Tan, Aik-Choon
AU - Gonzalez, Rene
AU - Medina, Theresa
AU - Doebele, Robert C.
AU - Robinson, William A.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Oncogenic ALK fusions occur in several types of cancer and can be effectively treated with ALK inhibitors; however, ALK fusions and treatment response have not been characterized in malignant melanomas. Recently, a novel isoform of ALK (ALKATI) was reported in 11% of melanomas but the response of melanomas expressing ALKATI to ALK inhibition has not been well characterized. We analyzed 45 melanoma patientderived xenograft models for ALK mRNA and protein expression. ALK expression was identified in 11 of 45 (24.4%) melanomas. Ten melanomas express wild-type (wt) ALK and/or ALKATI and one mucosal melanoma expresses multiple novel EML4-ALK fusion variants. Melanoma cells expressing different ALK variants were tested for response to ALK inhibitors. Whereas the melanoma expressing EML4-ALK were sensitive to ALK inhibitors in vitro and in vivo, the melanomas expressing wt ALK or ALKATI were not sensitive to ALK inhibitors. In addition, a patient with mucosal melanoma expressing ALKATI was treated with an ALK/ROS1/TRK inhibitor (entrectinib) on a phase I trial but did not respond. Our results demonstrate ALK fusions occur in malignant melanomas and respond to targeted therapy, whereas melanomas expressing ALKATI do not respond to ALK inhibitors. Targeting ALK fusions is an effective therapeutic option for a subset of melanoma patients, but additional clinical studies are needed to determine the efficacy of targeted therapies in melanomas expressing wt ALK or ALKATI.
AB - Oncogenic ALK fusions occur in several types of cancer and can be effectively treated with ALK inhibitors; however, ALK fusions and treatment response have not been characterized in malignant melanomas. Recently, a novel isoform of ALK (ALKATI) was reported in 11% of melanomas but the response of melanomas expressing ALKATI to ALK inhibition has not been well characterized. We analyzed 45 melanoma patientderived xenograft models for ALK mRNA and protein expression. ALK expression was identified in 11 of 45 (24.4%) melanomas. Ten melanomas express wild-type (wt) ALK and/or ALKATI and one mucosal melanoma expresses multiple novel EML4-ALK fusion variants. Melanoma cells expressing different ALK variants were tested for response to ALK inhibitors. Whereas the melanoma expressing EML4-ALK were sensitive to ALK inhibitors in vitro and in vivo, the melanomas expressing wt ALK or ALKATI were not sensitive to ALK inhibitors. In addition, a patient with mucosal melanoma expressing ALKATI was treated with an ALK/ROS1/TRK inhibitor (entrectinib) on a phase I trial but did not respond. Our results demonstrate ALK fusions occur in malignant melanomas and respond to targeted therapy, whereas melanomas expressing ALKATI do not respond to ALK inhibitors. Targeting ALK fusions is an effective therapeutic option for a subset of melanoma patients, but additional clinical studies are needed to determine the efficacy of targeted therapies in melanomas expressing wt ALK or ALKATI.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040064177&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85040064177&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-17-0472
DO - 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-17-0472
M3 - Article
C2 - 29054983
AN - SCOPUS:85040064177
VL - 17
SP - 222
EP - 231
JO - Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
JF - Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
SN - 1535-7163
IS - 1
ER -