Our results suggest that RT-qPCR is an inadequate initial test for detecting ALK-positive lung cancer. IHC is highly useful as an initial screening test for ALK rearrangement detection in NSCLC. These results contribute to the medical literature on the establishment of IHC as a standard diagnostic test for ALK rearrangements in NSCLC.

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Background Previous studies have identified that patients with EGFR mutations tend to have better responses to targeted therapy, as well as chemotherapy; however, the effect of genetic alterations in terms of radiotherapy (RT)‐related outcomes has not been fully assessed. We studied the impact of common non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) genetic alterations (EGFR, ALK and KRAS) in relation to objective response rate (ORR) to RT in patients with brain metastases. Methods From 2009–2015, 153 patients with an available genotyping status were treated with whole‐brain irradiation (WBI) before receiving systemic therapy. Primary outcome was ORR; secondary outcomes included intracranial progression‐free survival (IPFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Overall, ORR was 47.1%. ORR to RT varied significantly according to molecular status: EGFR (64.5%) ALK (54.5%) KRAS (20%) and WT (35.4%) (P = 0.001). EGFR mutation was the only independently associated factor for response to WBI (RR 3.52 [95% CI 1.6–7.7]; P = 0.002). Median IPFS was 10.8 months [95% CI 8.2–13.5] overall; however, IPFS also varied significantly according to molecular status: EGFR (18.2 months), ALK (18.4 months), KRAS (6.0 months) and WT (8.7 months) (P < 0.0001). OS for EGFR, ALK, KRAS and WT patients was 36.6, 32.2, 15.5 and 22.4 months, respectively (P = 0.014). Intracranial‐ORR (HR 0.4 [95% CI 0.2–0.6], P < 0.001) and mutation status (HR 0.7 [95% CI 0.6–0.9], P < 0.042) were independently associated with a higher OS. Conclusions RT response varies as per tumor molecular status. The presence of EGFR mutations favors the organ‐specific response to RT, and is associated with longer OS in patients with NSCLC and BM. Key points This study addressed for the first time the difference in radiotherapy‐related outcomes in patients with different genotypes of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before they received systemic therapy. Results show that response to radiotherapy varies as per tumor molecular status, particularly EGFR‐mutated tumors, have a favorable response to radiotherapy, contrary to KRAS‐mutated tumors.

Metastatic breast cancer as initial onset represents between 20 and 30 % of cases and is considered an incurable disease. The goal of its treatment is palliative, looking for increasing the survival while reducing the symptoms. Maintenance chemotherapy studies for metastatic breast cancer have demonstrated to prolong the progression-free survival, with unclear results in terms of overall survival. The main objectives of our study were the progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with recurring or metastatic breast cancer treated with capecitabine in the maintenance chemotherapy setting compared with patients not receiving maintenance chemotherapy. As secondary objectives, the frequency of dose-limiting toxicities and response rate were determined. A non-probabilistic sampling was used, through expert selection of patients from the recurring/metastatic breast cancer survey cared within the period from January 1, 2007, to December 21, 2012. A total of 77 patients were included. Clinical data of advanced/recurrent breast cancer patients that were treated with capecitabine were recorded. The study achieved its primary objective, since the progression-free survival was prolonged for the maintenance therapy group: 6.6 versus 18.1 months, p < 0.001. The absolute benefit was 11.5 months. Likewise, there was a benefit in the overall survival of 21.03 versus 29 months, p = 0.015, with an absolute benefit of 7.97 months. The toxicity profile was favorable in the maintenance group. The maintenance chemotherapy with capecitabine in patients treated at the National Medical Center Siglo XXI Oncology Hospital extends the overall survival and progression-free survival with a good toxicity profile.