ALK and ROS1 concurrent with EGFR mutation in patients with lung adenocarcinoma

The purpose of this study was to explore the frequencies of ALK and ROS1 fusion genes in EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients and examine the therapeutic efficacies of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

A total of 421 EGFR-mutated patients taking EGFR-TKIs were examined for ALK and ROS1 fusion genes based on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test.

The mutations of ALK rearrangement (n=10) and ROS1 rearrangement (n=3) were detected. All the patients received EGFR-TKIs, and eight took subsequent ALK/ROS1 inhibitor. PFS was longer in single EGFR mutants (n=408) than in EGFR/ALK or EGFR/ROS1 counterparts (n=13; 10.7 vs 6.6 months, P=0.004). No difference in OS existed between single EGFR and EGFR/ALK or EGFR/ROS1 mutants (21.0 vs 23.0 months, P=0.196). The median PFS of eight patients treated with ALK/ROS1 inhibitor was 6.0 months.

Concomitant ALK/ROS1 fusion genes occurred in 3.1% EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma patients. Concomitant ALK/ROS1-EGFR mutations may influence the therapeutic efficacy of EGFR-TKIs.