WEBINAR PRESENTED by DR. HERBERT H. LOONG

ABSTRACT

Background:

Molecular profiling of tumour tissue to guide treatment of patients (pts) with advanced solid tumours has previously been reported. Most series were reported from large volume academic cancer centres in the West. There is a paucity of data reporting the experience and applicability of such an approach in Asia. We report our single-centre experience of conducting a prospective molecular profiling programme for pts in advanced solid tumours.

Methods:

Pts with advanced solid tumours aged >/= 18 years, good performance status and archival tumour tissue available were prospectively consented. The RNA extracted from the FFPE tissue sections were subjected to RNA-sequencing using Archer FusionPlex Solid Tumor Kit and Archer Analysis Software 5.1. The putative gene translocations or alternative splicing were further confirmed with RT-PCR or FISH.

Results:

253 pts consented between Feb 2017 and Feb 2019. Demographics: M:F 138 : 115; Median age = 58 (range: 19-89). Diseases included sarcomas (n=88, 35%), NSCLC (n=61, 24%), glioma (n=42, 17%), melanoma (n=7, 3%) and others (n=55, 21%). Median turn-around time from consent to availability of report: 24 days (range: 3-112 days). 89% of samples passed quality control assessments. 8% (n=21) of samples could not be processed due to insufficient material (n=18), decalcified specimen (n=2) and poor RNA quality (n=1). 20 pts (9% of tested samples) had actionable genomic alterations. These include EGFRvIII mutations (n=7) and MET alterations (n=2) in gliomas; ROS1 (n=4), ALK (n=2), MET exon 14-skipping (n=1) and RET (n=1) rearrangements in NSCLC; ALK rearranged sarcoma (n=1).  Across all diseases, 3 pts with NTRK fusions were identified.

Conclusions:

We report the first institutional-based molecular profiling programme in Hong Kong in an effort to improve access to precision oncology. Such programmes are feasible in Asia. Pts can potentially benefit from identification of actionable alterations within a reasonable time frame.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostics procedures.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Dr. Herbert H. Loong

Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Oncology

Deputy Medical Director, Phase 1 Clinical Trials Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr. Herbert H. Loong holds conjoint appointments of Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Oncology and Deputy Medical Director of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also the current and founding convenor of the Prince of Wales Hospital Adult Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Team.

Dr. Loong obtained his medical degree with a Distinction in Surgery from The University of Hong Kong in 2003. He has completed a Fellowship in Drug Development at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada with a special focus on Experimental Therapeutics. His clinical and research interests also include Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Thoracic Oncology and Health Economics.

Dr. Loong is a recipient of the European Cancer Congress Fellowship Grant (2013), the ASCO Annual Meeting Merit Award (2014), the Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigators’ Award (2014). Nominated by patients and their caregivers, Dr. Loong led the Lung Cancer Team at CUHK to be bestowed the IASLC Foundation Cancer Care Team Award in recognition for providing the best thoracic oncology care in “Asia & Rest of the World” in 2018.