Study of Plasma NGS for Assessment, Characterization, Evaluation of Patients With ALK Resistance

NCT ID: NCT03833934

Last Updated: 2025-10-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 62 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-01-23
• Study Completion Date: 2023-10-31

Brief Summary

ALK-positive lung cancer is a subtype of lung cancer which carries a change in a gene called ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase). There are now many drugs for patients with ALK-positive lung cancer that slow cancer growth. However, after some time, just as bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics, ALK-positive lung cancers evolve ways to avoid the therapies by developing new mutations so the drugs lost their effectiveness. These new mutations can potentially be treated with a different drug. For these new therapies, the range of mutations that can develop at resistance is not well understood.

It is now possible to detect the presence of mutations or changes in the genetic structure in lung cancer by analyzing a patient's blood for bits of material shed by tumor. This approach is often called a liquid biopsy. Recently, researchers have shown that looking at tumor molecules through liquid biopsies can provide doctors with some of the same information that tissue biopsies provide. For example, liquid biopsies can be used to detect mutations that cause drug resistance. Obtaining liquid biopsies on patients with ALK-positive lung cancers at resistance to therapy may help better understand the different mutations that develop and guide therapy decisions.

In this research study, a blood specimen will be collected and submitted for liquid biopsy analysis at a commercial diagnostic company. This company specializes in analyzing tumor material found in blood. Specifically, it will look for genetic changes in the ALK gene that could help understand why a cancer has developed drug resistance.

This research study is for lung cancer patients with ALK-positive lung cancer who had been on a newer ALK targeted treatment (such as ceritinib, alectinib, brigatinib, or lorlatinib) to determine whether they have developed ALK resistance mutations. The investigators will collect a blood sample to examine these mutations. Participants will not have to have a tissue biopsy to participate in this study. Participants do not have to visit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) to participate. All study procedures will be performed remotely.

Detailed Description

SPACEWALK is an innovative remote consent and participation study using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to characterize resistance mechanisms arising in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after progression while on a next generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Additionally, the study will capture the potential of genomic-driven resistance therapy approach for effecting outcomes in patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC and TKI resistance. Finally, the study will assess the role of repeat plasma NGS in evaluating drug response.

The study will accrue patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC on systemic progression (outside the brain) while on treatment with a next-generation ALK TKI. Any patient interested in the study will find information about the study on the study website. The patient will consent remotely through the study website and documentation of advanced ALK-positive NSCLC and systemic progression while on a next-generation ALK TKI. The study team will reach out to the patient to confirm eligibility and send a blood collection kit. In the study kit the study participants will find all the necessary materials for local blood draws, and collected specimens will be sent directly to the central study laboratory (Resolution Bioscience) for plasma NGS.

Plasma NGS of cfDNA will involve sequencing of 19 genes, including ALK, permitting remote tumor genotyping. Plasma NGS analysis and results will be done following standard procedures of the Resolution Bioscience CLIA-certified laboratory. Results will be sent to study participants, their physicians and study team within 1-2 weeks. Plasma NGS reports will not include any specific treatment recommendations but will describe the presence of an ALK rearrangement, ALK resistance mutation, or other relevant mutations.

Study participants are followed remotely. The study coordinator will contact the participants weekly for 4 weeks after enrolled into the study to learn of any new treatment initiation and to release an additional plasma collection kit 2-4 weeks after starting treatment. Study participants will then be remotely contacted every 3 months to follow clinical outcomes on therapy for up to 2 years. If the cancer progresses on the participant's new treatment, the patient will have the option to provide a third blood specimen. Medical records and local imaging will be collected and studied.

The primary objective of the study is to characterize ALK TKI resistance to next-generation ALK TKIs in patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC. Secondarily, the investigators will assess the potential of plasma NGS to impact outcome on treatment by studying time to treatment discontinuation. Serial plasma NGS will also be assessed as a response biomarker. A total of 300 patients are planned to be enrolled, with the expectation that approximately 200 will have tumor-related mutations detected in plasma NGS.

Conditions

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

ALK-positive NSCLC with progression

Patients in this group signed consent, met eligibility criteria, and all had ALK-positive cancer of a primary lung lesion with systemic progression (excluding the central nervous system)

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Men or women older than 18 years at the time of consent.
• Demonstration of having advanced ALK positive NSCLC.
• Systemic progression (not CNS only progression) within the past 30 days while receiving a next generation ALK TKI.
• Patient must not have started a new line of therapy before signing the informed consent form.
• Willingness to provide a blood specimen prior to the initiation of a new line of treatment.
• Willing to provide clinical and medical information to the study team as required.
• Ability to read, write and communicate in English.
• Ability to sign a web-based informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants who are unable to provide informed consent.
• Participants who are 18 years of age or younger.
• Participants who are unable to comply with the study procedures.
• Known existence of an uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, psychiatric illness or social situations that would impair compliance with study requirements.
• Participants who have previously enrolled to the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Geoffrey R Oxnard, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Locations

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Countries

United States

References

Lawrence MN, Tamen RM, Martinez P, Sable-Hunt A, Addario T, Barbour P, Shaffer T, Hosseini SA, Bertucci C, Lim LP, Hong F, Michael K, Simon GR, Riess JW, Awad MM, Oxnard GR. SPACEWALK: A Remote Participation Study of ALK Resistance Leveraging Plasma Cell-Free DNA Genotyping. JTO Clin Res Rep. 2021 Feb 3;2(4):100151. doi: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2021.100151. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 34590008 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

5R21CA234816

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

ALCMI-011

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id