Dr. Akerley on MET Biomarker in Lung Cancer

Wallace L. Akerley, MD, who is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Steering Committee for Small Cell Lung Cancer Panel and NSCLC Panel, University of Utah Health, discusses using MET as a biomarker in lung cancer.

MET is unique because it can be a resistance marker as well as a primary driver of lung cancer, explains Akerley. MET exon 14 skipping mutations, though not common, are identified enough to warrant a treatment to target them, according to Akerley.

A phase II study examining capmatinib (INC280) has a response rate of around 70% and many patients on this agent have stable disease, says Akerley. Several patients have been on treatment for about 1.5 years and median survival times are exceeding 1.5 years. Additionally, capmatinib crosses the blood—brain barrier, is easy to take, and has good tolerability, concludes Akerley.