Case Report - (2017) Volume 5, Issue 3
Juengsamarn J, Sirachainan E and Reungwetwattana T*
Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
*Corresponding Author:
Reungwetwattana T
Division of Medical Oncology
Department of Internal Medicine
Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol
University, Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: 66 (0) 2201-1671;
Fax: 66 (0) 2643-5648
E-mail: thanyanan.reu@mahidol.ac.th
Received date: March 27, 2017; Accepted date: July 13, 2017; Published date: July 17, 2017
Citation: Thanyanan R (2017) Rapid Flare of Brain Metastases in ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer after Stopping Crizotinib. Arch Can Res Vol.5 No.3:146. doi:10.21767/2254-6081.1000146
The prevalence of Anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK) rearrangement in NSCLC is about 7-10%. Currently, there are several ALK inhibitors available in treating this group of patients. Brain metastases occur in approximately 30% of patients with ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and in patients treated with ALK inhibitor, CNS progression occurs in up to 70% of patients. Patients with brain metastases from ALK-positive NSCLC have a distinct natural history compared with patients with wild-type NSCLC. This article describes the rapid flare of brain metastases in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer after stopping Crizotinib.
Keywords
Brain metastases; Lung cancer; Crizotinib
Introduction
Twenty three percent of disease flare after discontinuation of EGFR-TKI has been reported with the median time to disease flare after EGFR TKI discontinuation was 8 days [1]. Factor associated with disease flare were shorter time to progression on initial TKI and presence of pleural or CNS disease. Not only EGFR mutation has targeted drug in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but there is about 5% of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement in NSCLC [2]. However, only few cases of flare phenomenon after discontinuation of ALK inhibitor was reported [3]. We demonstrate another rapid flare of CNS metastasis event after stopping Crizotinib in ALK-positive NSCLC.
Case Report
A 41-year-old Thai female presented with chronic cough. Right pleural effusion and multiple pulmonary nodules were detected in CXR and CT chest. Pleural biopsy was performed and showed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung without EGFR mutation. She was initially treated with 6 cycles of Pemetrexed/Cisplatin until December 2013 with partial response (PR). In May 2014, she developed progressive disease (PD) in pleura and bone. Docetaxel was started as the 2nd line treatment. Unfortunately, after 3 cycles of Docetaxel, she developed PD in lung and brain metastases. She underwent whole brain radiation (30 Gy). At progression, ALK gene rearrangement was detected by both IHC and FISH techniques.
Crizotinib was started in September 2014 with dramatic response after 2 weeks of treatment. Unfortunately, she developed systemic progression after 6 months of taking Crizotinib. Further treatment options were discussed with patient and family with the choice of chemotherapy or clinical trial of second generation ALK inhibitor. Patient chose to enroll in clinical trial with the requirement of washout period at least 5 half-life of Crizotinib (9 days). MRI brain on the day of stopping Crizotinib showed stable disease (Figure 1). Two weeks after stopping Crizotinib, she had worsening of headache and left-sided hemiparesis. CT brain showed obviously increasing in size and number of brain metastases (Figure 2). Unfortunately, she passed away from Klebsiella pneumoniae septicemia. At that time, her family refused intubation and resuscitation.
Figure 1: MRI brain on the day of stopping Crizotinib.
Figure 2: CT brain at 2 weeks after stopping Crizotinib.
Discussion and Conclusion
Flare phenomenon after discontinuation of EGFR TKI is well known. Only few cases were reported of rapid flare after stopping ALK inhibitor. Our case demonstrated another rapid flare of CNS metastases after stopping Crizotinib in ALKpositive NSCLC. Flare phenomenon should be carefully monitored during washout period in the patients who have oncogenic-driven mutation and patients who are taking tyrosine kinase inhibitors, especially, patients who have a lot of tumor burden at the time of progression. Acquired resistance mutations are probably one of the causes of rapid progression in Crizotinib-resistant patient. However, our patient’s disease at the time of progression was not tested for resistant mutation.
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