Successful Treatment of ALK-Positive Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung With Sequential ALK Inhibitors: A Case Report

Takayuki Kobayashi, MD; Yuji Uehara, MD; Kageaki Watanabe, MD; Tsunekazu Hishima, MD; Yukio Hosomi, MD

JTO Clinical and Research Reports (Jul 2023)

Successful Treatment of ALK-Positive Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung With Sequential ALK Inhibitors: A Case Report

Takayuki Kobayashi, MD,
Yuji Uehara, MD,
Kageaki Watanabe, MD,
Tsunekazu Hishima, MD,
Yukio Hosomi, MD

Affiliations

Takayuki Kobayashi, MD: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Yuji Uehara, MD: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Corresponding author. Address for correspondence: Yuji Uehara, MD, Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan.
Kageaki Watanabe, MD: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Tsunekazu Hishima, MD: Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Yukio Hosomi, MD: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 7
p. 100538

Abstract

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ALK-positive large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is an exceptionally rare form of lung cancer. The efficacy of ALK inhibitors in treating ALK-positive LCNEC remains unclear. Here, we report a case of ALK-positive LCNEC of the lung, which revealed a sustained clinical benefit (24+ mo of overall survival) after treatment with sequential ALK inhibitors and local therapies. This remarkable improvement in survival underscores the importance of testing metastatic LCNEC for biomarkers, such as ALK rearrangement, using immunohistochemistry or next-generation sequencing, especially in younger patients.

Published in JTO Clinical and Research Reports

ISSN: 2666-3643 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/jto-clinical-and-research-reports/

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