Response to crizotinib in a lung adenocarcinoma patient harboring EML4-ALK translocation with adnexal metastasis: A Case Report

Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Jul;95(30):e4221. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000004221.

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer with ovarian metastasis or adnexal metastasis harboring anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene translocation is rare. Crizotinib, a novel ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has already shown an impressive single-agent activity in ALK positive lung cancer.

Methods: To summarize the case of clinical data and treatment of a 33-year-old woman with pelvic adnexal metastasis NSCLC.

Results: Histological examination of the tumors showed lung adenocarcinoma. The right lung biopsy tissue and left adnexal mass biopsy tissue both revealed the presence of an ALK rearrangement by Ventana (D5F3) ALK immunohistochemistry assay (Ventana Medical Systems, Roche, Inc., Tuscon, AZ). The patient experienced a remarkable tumor response to crizotinib treatment.

Conclusion: Although the adnexal location is an uncommon metastasis site from lung cancer, oncologists should be aware of the possibility of such metastasis for female patients with ALK rearrangement NSCLC. Considering this remarkable response, we conclude that the presence of adnexal metastasis in NSCLC patients with ALK rearrangement should be attentive.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Crizotinib
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • EML4-ALK fusion protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Crizotinib