title: Targeted Therapy for Neuroblastoma: ALK Inhibitors.
abstract: Treatment for neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial childhood tumor, spans a broad range of aggressiveness that mirrors the risk profiles of disease subtypes, with high-risk neuroblastoma still presenting a clinical challenge. Currently, most patients with relapsed neuro-blastoma die of disease and present a major challenge for treatment. New therapeutic options are urgently needed to improve patient survival. Activating mutations in the gene encoding the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) remain the most frequent druggable mutations identified in neuroblastomas to date. Preclinical data support an oncogene addiction of neuroblastoma cells to mutated ALK and demonstrate that ALK inhibitory therapy strongly combats tumor models. Most recently, pediatric phase I testing has been completed for the first approved ALK inhibitor, Crizotinib, showing very encouraging antitumoral results in neuroblastoma patients. Subsequently, an international phase I study with the second generation ALK inhibitor, LDK-378, will be launched that makes ALK inhibitory therapy also available to pediatric patients in Germany.
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Germany.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Heukamp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Astrahantseff
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schramm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eggert
mesh_terms: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D000077547:Crizotinib; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D017277:Drug Approval; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D013450:Sulfones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013450:Sulfones; D000077547:Crizotinib; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C586847:ceritinib