The potential of neurotrophic tyrosine kinase (NTRK) inhibitors for treating lung cancer
Passiglia F, Caparica R, GIOVANNETTI E, Giallombardo M, Listi A, Diana P, Cirrincione G, Caglevic C, Raez LE, Russo A, Rolfo C.
Exp Opin Invest New Drugs 2016;25:385-92
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Molecular alterations in neurotrophic tyrosine kinase (NTRK) genes have been identified in several solid tumors including lung cancer. Pre-clinical and clinical evidence suggested their potential role as oncogenic drivers and predictive biomarkers for targeted inhibition, leading to the clinical development of a new class of compounds blocking the NTRK molecular pathway, which are currently undner early clinical investigation.
AREA COVERED: This review describes the biology of the NTRK pathway and its molecular alterations in lung cancer. It focuses on the pre-clinical and clinical development of emerging NTRK inhibitors, which have shown very promising activity in early phase I studies.
EXPERT OPINION: Among the several NTRK-inhibitors, entrectinib and LOXO-101 are those in more advanced stage of clinical development. Both agents have shown encouraging activity along with a tolerable safety profile in patients with different solid tumors harboring NTRK-fusions, emerging as new promising therapeutic options for molecularly selected patients with advanced Trk-driven lung cancers. Results from ongoing phase II basket trials are eagerly awaited.
