What question did this study set out to answer?

This report investigates a rare case of Spitz melanoma in a child with an ALK fusion to evaluate treatment responses.

April 10, 2026Open Access

A Case of Pediatric Spitz Melanoma With a ZEB2 :: ALK Fusion

Key Points

This report investigates a rare case of Spitz melanoma in a child with an ALK fusion to evaluate treatment responses.
A 3-year-old male patient presented with Spitz melanoma and ZEB2::ALK fusion.
Initial treatment involved wide local excision and neoadjuvant immunotherapy with a PD-1 inhibitor.
Patient underwent surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation therapy and targeted therapy with lorlatinib.
The tumor was aggressive and showed recurrence after initial excision.
Immunotherapy failed to control the progression of the melanoma.
Adjuvant targeted therapy with lorlatinib was initiated to address the ALK fusion.

Abstract

We present a rare case of Spitz melanoma in a 3-year-old male patient with a ZEB2::ALK fusion. This ALK-fused tumor exhibited aggressive behavior, recurring after an initial wide local excision and progressing despite neoadjuvant immunotherapy with a PD-1 inhibitor. Following a second surgical resection and adjuvant radiation therapy, the patient was started on adjuvant targeted therapy with lorlatinib, an ALK kinase inhibitor. This report illustrates the role of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in melanoma treatment.

A Case of Pediatric Spitz Melanoma With a ZEB2 :: ALK Fusion

Key Points

Abstract

Cite This Study