Efficacy and safety of larotrectinib in patients with TRK fusion gastrointestinal cancer Journal Article


Authors: Qi, C.; Shen, L.; Andre, T.; Chung, H. C.; Cannon, T. L.; Garralda, E.; Italiano, A.; Rieke, D. T.; Liu, T.; Burcoveanu, D. I.; Neu, N.; Mussi, C. E.; Xu, R. H.; Hong, D. S.; Drilon, A.; Berlin, J.
Article Title: Efficacy and safety of larotrectinib in patients with TRK fusion gastrointestinal cancer
Abstract: Background: Larotrectinib is the first-in-class, highly selective TRK inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy in various TRK fusion solid tumours. We report the efficacy and safety of larotrectinib in patients with TRK fusion gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: Patients with TRK fusion GI cancer from NAVIGATE (NCT02576431) were included. Response was independent review committee (IRC)-assessed per RECIST v1.1. Results: As of July 2023, 44 patients were enrolled. Tumour types included colorectal (CRC; n = 26), pancreatic (n = 7), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 4), gastric (n = 3), and one each of appendiceal, duodenal, oesophageal and hepatic cancers. Of the 26 patients with CRC, 16 (62 %) had known microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status. For the 43 IRC-eligible patients, overall response rate was 28 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 15–44) for all patients and 44 % (95 % CI 24–65) for those with CRC. In patients overall and in those with CRC, median duration of response was 27 months (95 % CI 6–not estimable [NE]) and 27 months (95 % CI 6–NE), median progression-free survival was 6 months (95 % CI 5–9) and 7 months (95 % CI 6–NE), and median overall survival was 13 months (95 % CI 7–29) and 29 months (95 % CI 7–NE), respectively. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in seven (16 %) patients. There were no deaths due to TRAEs. Conclusion: Larotrectinib demonstrated long durability, extended survival and manageable safety in patients with TRK fusion GI cancer, including those with MSI-H CRC. This supports the wider adoption of next-generation sequencing testing for NTRK gene fusions in patients with GI cancer. © 2025 The Authors
Keywords: colorectal cancer; gastrointestinal cancer; larotrectinib; ntrk gene fusion; trk fusion
Journal Title: European Journal of Cancer
Volume: 220
ISSN: 0959-8049
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2025-05-02
Start Page: 115338
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2025.115338
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 40068370
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PDF -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Alexander Edward Drilon
    633 Drilon