Table 3.

Individual patient data of cases with ALK-positive histiocytosis (n = 39) or atypical ALK-rearranged histiocyte-rich tumors (n = 3)

No.Gene fusionSexAge*Sites of diseaseFirst-line treatmentResponseProgression /relapseSecond- and further-line treatmentLast
response
Therapy ongoingOutcome
(follow-up)
Group 1A: infants with multistemic disease with liver and hematopoietic involvement 
1 N/A 0 d Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen, lung, possibly kidney IVIG (2 d), corticosteroids (tapered after diagnosis), and supportive care (transfusions) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(3.5 y) 
2 ALK-FISH+ 27 d Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen, + kidney at relapse Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 6 mo) PR Yes Chemotherapy CR No Alive with no disease
(7 y)§ 
KIF5B-ALK 1 mo Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen, kidney, skin Chemotherapy (VBL/DEX/MTX, 3 wk) PD Yes Chemotherapy (2-CDA, 1 wk) PD No Died of coagulopathy and sepsis (1 mo) 
N/A 2 mo Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen Supportive care (transfusions) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(4.5 y) 
ALK-FISH+ 4 mo Liver, hematopoietic system N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
(lost to follow-up) 
CLTC-ALK 5 mo Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen Corticosteroids (PRED 40mg/m2, 2.5 wk), followed by chemotherapy (VBL + tapered PRED, 2.5 wk) PD Yes Dexamethasone + anakinra (1 mo), followed by anakinra (3 mo) + azathioprine (4.5 mo) CR No Alive with no disease
(4 y) 
Group 1B: other patients with multisystemic disease 
TPM3-ALK 3 mo Bone, lung, liver Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED/6MP, 18 mo) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
ALK-FISH+ 9 mo Lung, skin, kidney Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 12 mo) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
9 KIF5B-ALK 10 mo CNS, lung, liver, soft tissue (peritoneum) Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED), combined
with ALK inhibition (alectinib) 
CR No — — Yes (VBL/PRED + alectinib) Alive with no disease
(13 mo) 
10 KIF5B-ALK 2 y CNS, bone, lung, liver, skin, soft tissue (perineal mass), lymph node, kidney, breast, pancreas Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 6 wk induction) SD No ALK inhibition (lorlatinib) PR Yes (lorlatinib) Alive with regressive disease (21 mo) 
11 KIF5B-ALK 10 y CNS, bone, lung, lymph node, cervix, thyroid, submandibular salivary gland ALK inhibition (crizotinib) CR No — — Yes (crizotinib) Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
12 KIF5B-ALK 19 y CNS/PNS, bone, lung, liver, lymph node, breast, pancreas Chemotherapy (2-CDA, 3 cycles), followed by ALK inhibition (alectinib) PR No — — Yes (alectinib) Alive with stable (PETnegative) bone lesions on MRI; other lesions regressed (2 y) 
13 TFG-ALK 21 y Liver, skin, colorectum Corticosteroids (high-dose) PR Yes — — No Died of sepsis (2 mo) 
14 KIF5B-ALK 28 y CNS/PNS, bone ALK inhibition (alectinib) PR No — — Yes (alectinib) Alive with regressive (PETnegative) disease (9 mo) 
15 KIF5B-ALK 29 y PNS (incl. cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis), bone Corticosteroids, followed by pegylated interferon-α (with escalation to 180μg/wk, 4 mo) SD No ALK inhibition (brigatinib) CR Yes (brigatinib) Alive with no disease
(2.5 y) 
16 KIF5B-ALK 41 y CNS, bone, lung, skin, soft tissue (omentum/peritoneum), lymph node Interferon-α (16 mo) PD Yes ALK inhibition (crizotinib) PR Yes (crizotinib) Alive with regressive disease (6 y) 
Group 2: single-system neurologic disease 
17 KIF5B-ALK 7 mo CNS: thalamus Corticosteroids, followed by ALK inhibition (lorlatinib) PR No — — Yes (lorlatinib) Alive with regressive disease (5 mo) 
18 ALK-FISH+ 9 mo CNS: cerebellum N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
(lost to follow-up) 
19 KIF5B-ALK 2.5 y CNS: right medulla tumor extending through the foramen of Luschka Chemotherapy (Headstart protocol, 1 cycle) PD Yes ALK inhibition (alectinib) CR Yes (alectinib) Alive with no disease
(16 mo) 
20 KIF5B-ALK 3 y CNS: cerebellum, cranial nerves, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid Corticosteroids, followed by surgery (subtotal resection cerebellar tumor) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(12 mo) 
21 KIF5B-ALK 3 y PNS: left oculomotor nerve with extraneural extension Corticosteroids, followed by surgery (subtotal resection) and chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 6 mo) PR No — — No Alive with mildly regressive disease (2.5 y) 
22 KIF5B-ALK 7 y CNS: left medulla Chemotherapy (Clofarabine, 6 cycles) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(6 mo) 
23 KIF5B-ALK 11 y CNS: right frontal lobe Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(9 mo) 
24 ALK-FISH+ 11 y PNS: left trigeminal nerve Surgery (subtotal resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(18 y) 
25 KIF5B-ALK 12 y PNS: intradural extramedullary tumor at level C1-C2 Surgery (total resection), followed by
chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 12 mo) 
CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2.5 y) 
26 KIF5B-ALK 13 y CNS/PNS: left insula, cranial & spinal nerves, pituitary stalk, + cerebrospinal fluid at relapse Surgery (subtotal resection insula tumor) PD Yes ALK inhibition (alectinib) PR Yes (alectinib) Alive with minor, regressive disease (2.5 y) 
27 KIF5B-ALK 20 y PNS: 3 intradural extramedullary lesions at levels L3 and S1 Not treated yet Not yet evaluable Not yet evaluable — — No Alive with active disease (7 mo) 
28 KIF5B-ALK 20 y CNS: right frontal lobe Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease (10 mo) 
Group 2: single-system nonneurologic disease 
29 KIF5B-ALK 6 mo Skin: retroauricular scalp lesion Active monitoring (4 mo), followed by
surgery (subtotal resection) 
CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
30 KIF5B-ALK 7 mo Skin: papular lesion on the back Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(13 mo) 
31 KIF5B-ALK 21 mo Skin: midline posterior scalp lesion Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
32 KIF5B-ALK 2 y Soft tissue: subcutaneous tumor left lower leg with infiltration in the musculature Active monitoring PR No — — No Alive with regressive disease (14 mo) 
33 KIF5B-ALK 3 y Soft tissue: perineal mass Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(14 mo) 
34 KIF5B-ALK 3 y Soft tissue: subglottic mass Corticosteroids, followed by surgery
(total resection) 
CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(3 y) 
35 KIF5B-ALK 10 y Skin: single nodule on the right breast (7mm; exclusively dermal/cutaneous) Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(1 mo) 
36 KIF5B-ALK 10 y Bone: right scapular lesion with soft tissue extension Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(5 y) 
37 KIF5B-ALK 11 y Soft tissue: 2 tumors in omentum and mesenterium Surgery (subtotal resection) PD Yes Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 12 wk, IC-1/IC-2, PD), followed by active monitoring SD No Alive with stable disease
(15 mo) 
38 EML4-ALK 17 y Lung: single mass (10 × 9 × 8 cm) within the left lower lobe extending into the pulmonary vein and left atrium N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (lost to follow-up) 
39 DCTN1-ALK 41 y Bone: right clavicular lesion with significant soft tissue extension (total size >10 cm) Radiotherapy (22 Gy in 12 fractions) PR No ALK inhibition (crizotinib → severe anaphylaxis),
followed by chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 4 courses, → PD), and then ALK inhibition (alectinib) 
PR Yes (alectinib) Alive with regressive
disease (2 y) 
Atypical: ALK-rearranged histiocyte-rich tumors 
A1 EML4-ALK 51 y CNS, bone, lung, + subcutaneous tumors at relapse Surgery (L1 tumor), chemotherapy (TC, 1 cycle) and radiotherapy (32 Gy L1 tumor; 20 Gy whole brain) PD Yes ALK inhibition (alectinib for 16 mo, followed by lorlatinib for 14 mo, and then ceritinib for 7 wk), followed by antalgic radiotherapy of 2 metastases and chemotherapy (VBL/PRED) SD Yes (VBL/Pred) Alive with stable
disease (3 y) 
A2 SQSTM1-ALK 53 y Soft tissue: large mesenteric tumor, + subcutaneous and liver tumors at relapse Surgery (total resection) PD Yes ALK inhibition (crizotinib) SD Yes (crizotinib) Alive with stable disease (13 mo) 
A3 EML4-ALK 4 y Soft tissue: obstructing yellow nodule in the left main bronchus Surgery (endoscopic resection) N/A Yes Surgery (endoscopic reresection 1 and 2 y after first surgery) CR No Alive with no disease
(17 y) 
No.Gene fusionSexAge*Sites of diseaseFirst-line treatmentResponseProgression /relapseSecond- and further-line treatmentLast
response
Therapy ongoingOutcome
(follow-up)
Group 1A: infants with multistemic disease with liver and hematopoietic involvement 
1 N/A 0 d Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen, lung, possibly kidney IVIG (2 d), corticosteroids (tapered after diagnosis), and supportive care (transfusions) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(3.5 y) 
2 ALK-FISH+ 27 d Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen, + kidney at relapse Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 6 mo) PR Yes Chemotherapy CR No Alive with no disease
(7 y)§ 
KIF5B-ALK 1 mo Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen, kidney, skin Chemotherapy (VBL/DEX/MTX, 3 wk) PD Yes Chemotherapy (2-CDA, 1 wk) PD No Died of coagulopathy and sepsis (1 mo) 
N/A 2 mo Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen Supportive care (transfusions) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(4.5 y) 
ALK-FISH+ 4 mo Liver, hematopoietic system N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
(lost to follow-up) 
CLTC-ALK 5 mo Liver, hematopoietic system, spleen Corticosteroids (PRED 40mg/m2, 2.5 wk), followed by chemotherapy (VBL + tapered PRED, 2.5 wk) PD Yes Dexamethasone + anakinra (1 mo), followed by anakinra (3 mo) + azathioprine (4.5 mo) CR No Alive with no disease
(4 y) 
Group 1B: other patients with multisystemic disease 
TPM3-ALK 3 mo Bone, lung, liver Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED/6MP, 18 mo) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
ALK-FISH+ 9 mo Lung, skin, kidney Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 12 mo) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
9 KIF5B-ALK 10 mo CNS, lung, liver, soft tissue (peritoneum) Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED), combined
with ALK inhibition (alectinib) 
CR No — — Yes (VBL/PRED + alectinib) Alive with no disease
(13 mo) 
10 KIF5B-ALK 2 y CNS, bone, lung, liver, skin, soft tissue (perineal mass), lymph node, kidney, breast, pancreas Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 6 wk induction) SD No ALK inhibition (lorlatinib) PR Yes (lorlatinib) Alive with regressive disease (21 mo) 
11 KIF5B-ALK 10 y CNS, bone, lung, lymph node, cervix, thyroid, submandibular salivary gland ALK inhibition (crizotinib) CR No — — Yes (crizotinib) Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
12 KIF5B-ALK 19 y CNS/PNS, bone, lung, liver, lymph node, breast, pancreas Chemotherapy (2-CDA, 3 cycles), followed by ALK inhibition (alectinib) PR No — — Yes (alectinib) Alive with stable (PETnegative) bone lesions on MRI; other lesions regressed (2 y) 
13 TFG-ALK 21 y Liver, skin, colorectum Corticosteroids (high-dose) PR Yes — — No Died of sepsis (2 mo) 
14 KIF5B-ALK 28 y CNS/PNS, bone ALK inhibition (alectinib) PR No — — Yes (alectinib) Alive with regressive (PETnegative) disease (9 mo) 
15 KIF5B-ALK 29 y PNS (incl. cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis), bone Corticosteroids, followed by pegylated interferon-α (with escalation to 180μg/wk, 4 mo) SD No ALK inhibition (brigatinib) CR Yes (brigatinib) Alive with no disease
(2.5 y) 
16 KIF5B-ALK 41 y CNS, bone, lung, skin, soft tissue (omentum/peritoneum), lymph node Interferon-α (16 mo) PD Yes ALK inhibition (crizotinib) PR Yes (crizotinib) Alive with regressive disease (6 y) 
Group 2: single-system neurologic disease 
17 KIF5B-ALK 7 mo CNS: thalamus Corticosteroids, followed by ALK inhibition (lorlatinib) PR No — — Yes (lorlatinib) Alive with regressive disease (5 mo) 
18 ALK-FISH+ 9 mo CNS: cerebellum N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
(lost to follow-up) 
19 KIF5B-ALK 2.5 y CNS: right medulla tumor extending through the foramen of Luschka Chemotherapy (Headstart protocol, 1 cycle) PD Yes ALK inhibition (alectinib) CR Yes (alectinib) Alive with no disease
(16 mo) 
20 KIF5B-ALK 3 y CNS: cerebellum, cranial nerves, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid Corticosteroids, followed by surgery (subtotal resection cerebellar tumor) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(12 mo) 
21 KIF5B-ALK 3 y PNS: left oculomotor nerve with extraneural extension Corticosteroids, followed by surgery (subtotal resection) and chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 6 mo) PR No — — No Alive with mildly regressive disease (2.5 y) 
22 KIF5B-ALK 7 y CNS: left medulla Chemotherapy (Clofarabine, 6 cycles) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(6 mo) 
23 KIF5B-ALK 11 y CNS: right frontal lobe Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(9 mo) 
24 ALK-FISH+ 11 y PNS: left trigeminal nerve Surgery (subtotal resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(18 y) 
25 KIF5B-ALK 12 y PNS: intradural extramedullary tumor at level C1-C2 Surgery (total resection), followed by
chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 12 mo) 
CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2.5 y) 
26 KIF5B-ALK 13 y CNS/PNS: left insula, cranial & spinal nerves, pituitary stalk, + cerebrospinal fluid at relapse Surgery (subtotal resection insula tumor) PD Yes ALK inhibition (alectinib) PR Yes (alectinib) Alive with minor, regressive disease (2.5 y) 
27 KIF5B-ALK 20 y PNS: 3 intradural extramedullary lesions at levels L3 and S1 Not treated yet Not yet evaluable Not yet evaluable — — No Alive with active disease (7 mo) 
28 KIF5B-ALK 20 y CNS: right frontal lobe Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease (10 mo) 
Group 2: single-system nonneurologic disease 
29 KIF5B-ALK 6 mo Skin: retroauricular scalp lesion Active monitoring (4 mo), followed by
surgery (subtotal resection) 
CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
30 KIF5B-ALK 7 mo Skin: papular lesion on the back Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(13 mo) 
31 KIF5B-ALK 21 mo Skin: midline posterior scalp lesion Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(2 y) 
32 KIF5B-ALK 2 y Soft tissue: subcutaneous tumor left lower leg with infiltration in the musculature Active monitoring PR No — — No Alive with regressive disease (14 mo) 
33 KIF5B-ALK 3 y Soft tissue: perineal mass Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(14 mo) 
34 KIF5B-ALK 3 y Soft tissue: subglottic mass Corticosteroids, followed by surgery
(total resection) 
CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(3 y) 
35 KIF5B-ALK 10 y Skin: single nodule on the right breast (7mm; exclusively dermal/cutaneous) Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(1 mo) 
36 KIF5B-ALK 10 y Bone: right scapular lesion with soft tissue extension Surgery (total resection) CR No — — No Alive with no disease
(5 y) 
37 KIF5B-ALK 11 y Soft tissue: 2 tumors in omentum and mesenterium Surgery (subtotal resection) PD Yes Chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 12 wk, IC-1/IC-2, PD), followed by active monitoring SD No Alive with stable disease
(15 mo) 
38 EML4-ALK 17 y Lung: single mass (10 × 9 × 8 cm) within the left lower lobe extending into the pulmonary vein and left atrium N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (lost to follow-up) 
39 DCTN1-ALK 41 y Bone: right clavicular lesion with significant soft tissue extension (total size >10 cm) Radiotherapy (22 Gy in 12 fractions) PR No ALK inhibition (crizotinib → severe anaphylaxis),
followed by chemotherapy (VBL/PRED, 4 courses, → PD), and then ALK inhibition (alectinib) 
PR Yes (alectinib) Alive with regressive
disease (2 y) 
Atypical: ALK-rearranged histiocyte-rich tumors 
A1 EML4-ALK 51 y CNS, bone, lung, + subcutaneous tumors at relapse Surgery (L1 tumor), chemotherapy (TC, 1 cycle) and radiotherapy (32 Gy L1 tumor; 20 Gy whole brain) PD Yes ALK inhibition (alectinib for 16 mo, followed by lorlatinib for 14 mo, and then ceritinib for 7 wk), followed by antalgic radiotherapy of 2 metastases and chemotherapy (VBL/PRED) SD Yes (VBL/Pred) Alive with stable
disease (3 y) 
A2 SQSTM1-ALK 53 y Soft tissue: large mesenteric tumor, + subcutaneous and liver tumors at relapse Surgery (total resection) PD Yes ALK inhibition (crizotinib) SD Yes (crizotinib) Alive with stable disease (13 mo) 
A3 EML4-ALK 4 y Soft tissue: obstructing yellow nodule in the left main bronchus Surgery (endoscopic resection) N/A Yes Surgery (endoscopic reresection 1 and 2 y after first surgery) CR No Alive with no disease
(17 y) 

2-CDA, cladribine; 6MP, mercaptopurine; CNS, central nervous system; CR, complete response; F, female; Gy, gray; IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin; M, male; N/A, not available; PD, progressive disease; PNS, peripheral nervous system; PR, partial response; PRED, prednisone; SD, stable disease; TC, paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide; VBL, vinblastine.

*

Age at presentation in hospital.

Follow-up since presentation in hospital.

Previously reported cases (Case 1,47 Case 2,30,31 Case 9,39 Case 16,6 Case 23,39 Case 3444).

§

This patient experiences chronic renal insufficiency, hypertension, and hypergammaglobulinemia.

Death.

Abdominal MRI after chemotherapy demonstrated disease progression. Subsequent abdominal ultrasound exams at 2 and 4 mo after abdominal MRI showed stable disease; the patient has been asymptomatic since he received chemotherapy. Therefore, no second-line therapy was given at last follow-up, but active monitoring was executed. Active monitoring was performed using abdominal ultrasound because of significant distress of the child during MRI.

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