Tepotinib Improves Prognosis in an Elderly Patient with Poor Performance Status and MET Exon 14 Skipping Mutation-positive Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Several target therapies for driver gene mutations related with lung cancer growth are clinically effective in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Gefitinib and alectinib have been reported as being effective and safe even in those with poor performance status (PS), but little is known about efficacy and tolerability of other TKIs. An 84-year-old man was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (cT3N2M1c stage IVB). During the initial treatment with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel, his Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS increased to 3. He was found to be positive for the mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 skipping mutation, and tepotinib, a c-Met inhibitor, was started. His PS improved to 0-1 and partial response was maintained for 12 months or more. The MET exon 14 skipping mutation is common in the elderly, and TKI treatment may improve prognosis, even in patients with reduced PS.