We are very pleased to hear that NICE has approved the Roche drug Entrectinib (Rozlytrek), for use via the Cancer drug fund (CDF) in England by adults and children 12 years and older, who have advanced NTRK (Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase) fusion-positive solid tumours and no satisfactory treatment options. Eligible patients will have access to Entrectinib through the CDF once the marketing authorisation has been granted.
Entrectinib is the second “histology independent drug” to be recommended by NICE for use on the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), the first one being Larotrectinib earlier in 2020. Histology independent treatments target all tumours that have the same gene fusion, in this case an NTRK gene fusion, regardless of where the cancer originated in the body.
Patients whose tumours are driven by an NTRK fusion and where surgery is not curative have, until recently, not had any satisfactory treatment options. Being able to access drugs via the CDF is a huge benefit to patients as it means that the NHS will pay for the drug for a time while more data is collected to demonstrate cost and treatment effectiveness so that it can be available permanently.
In recent years we have learned that some GIST cancer patients harbor an NTRK fusion mutation and that patients currently classified as Quadruple negative GIST (because they lack mutations in the four genes KIT, PDGFRA, SDH or BRAF) should be tested to see if they have the NTRK fusion mutation.
The PAWS-GIST clinic at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge www.pawsgistclinc.org.uk is working to test Quadruple negative GIST patients who have attended the clinic, for the NTRK fusion.
Dr V.Ramesh Bulusu – Leading GIST Oncologist and Clinical lead for the PAWS-GIST Clinic said:
“NTRK Fusion GISTs are very rare and currently there is no standard of care. We need to start testing all our quadruple negative GIST patients for this NTRK fusion, working together to identify the patients and get them on to the treatment”.
The link below will take you to more information from NICE:
