Phase I Study of LDK378 in Pediatric, Malignancies With a Genetic Alteration in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed with a locally advanced or metastatic malignancy that has progressed despite standard therapy, or for which no effective standard therapy exists
* Age ≥ 12 months and \< 18 years
* The tumor must carry a genetic alteration of ALK
* Patients must have evaluable or measurable disease.
* Karnofsky performance status score ≥ 60% for patients \> 12 years of age; Lansky score ≥ 50% for patients ≤ 12 years of age.

Exclusion criteria:

* Symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases who are neurologically unstable or require increasing doses of steroids or local CNS-directed therapy (such as radiotherapy, surgery or intrathecal chemotherapy) to control their CNS disease
* Inadequate end organ function as defined by specified laboratory values
* Body surface area (BSA) \< 0.35 m2
* Impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of LDK378 (e.g., ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or malabsorption syndrome)
* Use of medications that are known to be strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4/5 that cannot be discontinued at least 1 week prior to start of treatment with LDK378 and for the duration of the study
* Use of medications that are mainly metabolized by CYP3A4/5 or CYP2C9 that cannot be discontinued at least 1 week prior to start of treatment with LDK378 and for the duration of the study
* History of interstitial lung disease or interstitial pneumonitis, including clinically significant radiation pneumonitis
* History of pancreatitis or history of increased amylase or lipase that was due to pancreatic disease.
* Medications with a known risk of prolongation of QT interval