Is there a role in sending liquid biopsy for patients progressing on ALK inhibitors?

We believe there is increasing value in testing for acquired resistance mechanisms and thereby sending liquid biopsies in patients who progress on ALK inhibitors. The importance was not previously observed as much in patients who progress on first generation crizotinib, since many patients will respond to second and third generation inhibitors regardless of the mutational profile, since resistance to crizotinib is often mediated by relatively poor ALK inhibition by the drug rather than a specific resistance mutation. However, repeat molecular profiling becomes more important after progression on second and third generation ALK inhibitors since specific resistance mutations may arise – that may be susceptible to other inhibitors and compound...