Dr Fernando Santini provides a summary of the key NTRK abstracts from three recent congresses: WCLC, ECP and ESMO 2022.

Learn about the latest long-term efficacy and safety data for larotrectinib in lung cancer (WCLC) and a pooled analysis covering 17 different tumours (ESMO).  Dr Santini also highlights an ultra-fast gene fusion assessment approach offering both high sensitivity and specificity, with a rapid workflow compared to the current methods.


Dr Fernando Santini (Medical Oncologist) summarises key abstracts from WCLC, ECP and ESMO:

  • Extended follow-up of efficacy and safety of larotrectinib in patients with TRK fusion lung cancer (WCLC, EP08.02-148, Moreno et al)
  • Ultra-fast gene fusion assessment as a reflex testing in daily clinical practice for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (ECP, OFP-12-007, Bontoux et al)
  • Efficacy and safety of larotrectinib in a pooled analysis of patients with tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) fusion cancer with an extended follw-up (ESMO, 463P, McDermott et al)

NTRK CONNECT UPDATE FROM WCLC, ECP and ESMO 2022

Hi. My name is Fernando Santini, and I'm a medical oncologist at the Thoracic Oncology Service here at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  On behalf of NTRK CONNECT I have the honour to provide an update of the main NTRK fusion data from WCLC, ECP and ESMO 2022.

First the extended follow up of efficacy and safety of larotrectinib in the cohort of patients with TRK fusion lung cancer was presented at WCLC. This data set included 26 patients. The overall response rate, which was the primary endpoint assessed by an independent review committee, was 83%. Of note, most of these patients were highly pretreated, having received three or more lines of therapy. With a median follow up of 12.9 months the median duration of response was not reached yet, but the mean overall survival was 40.7 months. This dataset reassures that larotrectinib is the best first-line therapy for patients with TRK fusion-positive advanced lung cancer.

Switching gears a little bit to the diagnostic field, there is an urgent need for a rapid assessment of multiple genomic alterations in non-small cell lung cancer. New work presented at the European Congress of Pathology tested the performance of an ultra-fast gene fusion assessment strategy as a reflex testing for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. Two platforms were tested. The Oncomine™ Precision Assay, which is an NGS amplicon-based test that includes all the key targets. And a new Idylla™ GeneFusion Assay, which is a fully automated based on RT-PCR that detects known and novel fusions combining two detection techniques.

With a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 99%, the performance of the two approaches were the same when compared with the gold standard techniques. The turning point is that the full sample to result workflow can be completed in just a single day, and without doubt these new technologies should be incorporated at diagnoses in order to treat patients in a timely fashion.

And to conclude in a more mature data set with a longer follow up of the pooled analysis of patients with TRK fusion cancer treated with larotrectinib that was again presented at ESMO. A total of like 164 patients were evaluable for efficacy analysis by an independent review committee and from 17 different tumour types most commonly soft tissue sarcoma, thyroid, salivary gland and lung, the best overall response rate was 74%. The dataset reached an impressive median duration of response of 34.5 months. Larotrectinib continues to demonstrate durable and deep responses with a very favourable safety profile.

This highlights the importance of identifying NTRK fusions in cancer patients.

Please visit the NTRK CONNECT website to have access to a more detailed slide deck.

Dr Fernando Santini has received financial support/sponsorship for research support, consultation, or speaker fees from the following companies:

AstraZeneca, Bayer, BMS, Lilly, MDHealth, MSD, Novartis and Roche. 

Programme summary
Watch the video now
Share this programme
This educational programme is supported by an Independent Educational Grant from Bayer
Supporter Acknowledgement
This educational programme is supported by an Independent Educational Grant from Bayer
I agree that this educational programme:

Was valuable to me

1/4
Brought to you by
PRECISION ONCOLOGY CONNECT

PRECISION ONCOLOGY CONNECT is an initiative of COR2ED, supported by Independent Educational Grants from AstraZeneca, Amoy Diagnostics, Bayer, Pierre Fabre Laboratories and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Meet the experts Independent IME approved

Other programmes of interest

conference-update Conference update
Oncology 
Highlights from ASCO 2025

Coming Soon: Expert insights on the latest data 

Experts
Prof. Mark Socinski, Dr Elizabeth Smyth, Dr Paolo Tarantino, Dr Domenica Lorusso, Prof. Gerhardt Attard
Endorsed by
Exon20group Biomarker Collaborative ICAN international cancer advocacy network
Lung Cancer Europe
  • clock 1 MIN
  • calendar May 2025

The oncogene-addicted NSCLC supported through an Independent Educational Grant from Bayer with all other updates supported by COR2ED
symposium Symposium
Oncology 
ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer: Highlights from ESMO Breast Cancer 2025 Satellite Symposium

Medical experts discuss treatment strategies and sequencing after ET + CDK4/6i for ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer

Experts
Prof. Wolfgang Janni, Prof. Sherko Kümmel, Prof. Michail Ignatiadis
  • download Downloadable
    Resources
  • clock 5 MIN
  • calendar May 2025

This programme has been sponsored by Menarini Stemline and is intended for healthcare professionals only
podcast Podcast
Hemostasis and bleeding disorders Oncology 
Serie de podcasturi referitoare la gestionarea trombozei

Experți de renume din domeniul medical își împărtășesc perspectivele. Navigați în secțiuni pentru a selecta un episod al podcastului 

Experts
Prof. Dimitrios Tsakiris, Dr Lars Asmis, Prof. Jerzy Windyga, Prof. Daniel Bolliger
  • download Downloadable
    Resources
  • clock 21 MIN
  • calendar May 2025

This educational programme is supported by an Independent Educational Grant from Viatris.
video Video
Oncology Hemato-oncology 
Optimising the sequence of novel therapies from early relapse in multiple myeloma

Improving the survival of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Experts
Prof. Hermann Einsele, Prof. Evangelos Terpos
  • download Downloadable
    Resources
  • clock 2 MIN
  • calendar May 2025

This programme has been sponsored by Menarini Stemline and is intended for healthcare professionals only
animated-video Animated Video
Oncology 
BRAF V600E mutated NSCLC: The evolving treatment landscape

Expert insights into personalised treatment strategies in BRAF-mutated NSCLC

Experts
Prof. Amanda Tufman
Endorsed by
BRAF Bombers ICAN international cancer advocacy network Biomarker Collaborative
Lung Cancer Europe
  • download Downloadable
    Resources
  • clock 6 MIN
  • calendar May 2025

This content is intended for HCPs outside the UK & ROI only. The medical experts in this podcast are expressing their own views and not those of COR2ED, Supporters or their institution. This programme is supported by an Independent Educational Grant from Pierre Fabre Laboratories.  The programme is, therefore, independent; the content is not influenced by Pierre Fabre Laboratories and is under the sole responsibility of the experts. 
podcast Podcast
Oncology 
Tackling metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC)

Chemotherapy strategies that matter

Experts
Prof. Shubham Pant, Prof. Efrat Dotan
Endorsed by
DiCE ICAN international cancer advocacy network
  • download Downloadable
    Resources
  • clock 4 MIN
  • calendar May 2025

Educational programme supported by an Independent Educational Grant from Ipsen USA