Clinical Research Directory

Primary Resistance Mechanisms of ALK TKIs

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement is a known oncogenic driver in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been clearly shown to produce excellent therapeutic effects and prolong survival in patients with this gene mutation. According to current treatment guidelines, ALK inhibitors are the first-line treatment of choice for ALK-positive advanced NSCLC patients. However, although ALK TKIs are very effective, there is still a small group of patients who do not achieve good treatment outcomes, developing resistance and tumor progression within 3 to 6 months of initial ALK TKI use. This is called primary resistance. Intrinsic resistance to ALK inhibition occurs when the best clinical response after first-generation and second/third-generation TKI treatment is disease progression. Approximately 5-7% of cases after crizotinib treatment, 9% after ceritinib treatment, and 25% after lorlatinib treatment show no response to treatment, and no specific ALK mutation has been found to explain the occurrence of primary resistance. Currently, many different resistance mechanisms are known, some of which are still ALK-related, while others are ALK-independent alternative survival pathways. However, most research focuses on acquired resistance, with very few studies on primary resistance, only a few case reports. Therefore, this study aims to explore the primary ALK TKI resistance mechanisms. The investigators plan to explore the incidence and mechanisms of primary ALK TKI resistance in ALK-positive advanced NSCLC patients who develop primary resistance or rapid progression (within 3-6 months) during ALK inhibitor treatment by re-obtaining tumor samples for genetic analysis.

Exploring the Mechanism of Primary Resistance to Third-generation EGFR-TKIs as First-line Treatment in EGFR-positive Advanced NSCLC (PRECISE Study)

Lung cancer is currently the world's largest malignant tumor for cancer-related deaths with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 80%-85%. Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), especially the 3rd-generation EGFR-TKIs have demonstrated strong antitumor effects in EGFR-positive patients. However, approximately 20% of EGFR-positive were primarily resistant to 3rd generation EGFR-TKIs, i.e., clinical non-response or disease progression in the short term. This study aimed to clarify the molecular indicators that predict the benefits of 3-rd EGFR-TKIs as first-line therapy in NSCLCpatients with EGFR-positive. Further, to clarify their primary drug resistance mechanisms, which is of great significance for the treatment and clinical decision-making of NSCLC disease.