scholarly journals Canadian perspectives: update on inhibition of ALK-positive tumours in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Melosky ◽  
P. Cheema ◽  
J. Agulnik ◽  
R. Albadine ◽  
D. G. Bebb ◽  
...  

BackgroundInhibition of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (alk) oncogenic driver in advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (nsclc) improves survival. In 2015, Canadian thoracic oncology specialists published a consensus guideline about the identification and treatment of ALK-positive patients, recommending use of the alk inhibitor crizotinib in the first line. New scientific literature warrants a consensus update.MethodsClinical trials of alk inhibitor were reviewed to assess benefits, risks, and implications relative to current Canadian guidance in patients with ALK-positive nsclc.ResultsRandomized phase iii trials have demonstrated clinical benefit for single-agent alectinib and ceritinib used in treatment-naïve patients and as second-line therapy after crizotinib. Phase ii trials have demonstrated activity for single-agent brigatinib and lorlatinib in further lines of therapy. Improved responses in brain metastases were observed for all second- and next/third-generation alk tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients progressing on crizotinib. Canadian recommendations are therefore revised as follows:Patients with advanced nonsquamous nsclc have to be tested for the presence of an ALKrearrangement.Treatment-naïve patients with ALK-positive disease should initially be offered single-agent alectinib or ceritinib, or both sequentially.Crizotinib-refractory patients should be treated with single-agent alectinib or ceritinib, or both sequentially.Further treatments could include single-agent brigatinib or lorlatinib, or both sequentially.Patients progressing on alk tyrosine kinase inhibitors should be considered for pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.Other systemic therapies should be exhausted before immunotherapy is considered.SummaryMultiple lines of alk inhibition are now recommended for patients with advanced nsclc with an ALKrearrangement.

2020 ◽  
pp. OP.20.00692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo H.L. Goulart ◽  
Joseph M. Unger ◽  
Shasank Chennupati ◽  
Catherine R. Fedorenko ◽  
Scott D. Ramsey

PURPOSE: We investigated the association of out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with overall survival (OS) in epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR)- and anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK)-positive advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We secondarily investigated associations of TKI OOP costs with TKI adherence, duration of therapy (DOT), and TKI discontinuation. METHODS: We used the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research registry-claims database to identify patients with stage IV EGFR- or ALK-positive NSCLC; ≥ 1 claims for EGFR or ALK TKIs; and ≥ 3-month survival from TKI initiation. We estimated the average monthly TKI OOP costs per patient up to 3 months from TKI initiation, categorizing patients into quartiles of TKI OOP costs (Q1 < Q2 < Q3 < Q4). We conducted landmark analysis at 3 months from TKI initiation to compare Q1-3 v Q4 TKI OOP costs with respect to OS, TKI DOT, TKI adherence, and TKI discontinuation. RESULTS: Seventy-eight and twenty-seven patients comprised the Q1-3 and Q4 groups, respectively. Median monthly TKI OOP costs were $1,431 (Q1-3) v $2,888 (Q4). Compared with Q1-3, Q4 patients had inferior OS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.85; [95% CI, 1.11 to 3.10], similar TKI DOT (adjusted HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.53 to 2.15), decreased TKI adherence (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.28; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.76), and higher TKI discontinuation rate (adjusted OR, 8.75; 95% CI, 2.59 to 29.52). CONCLUSION: Among patients with advanced EGFR- and ALK-positive NSCLC, higher TKI OOP costs are associated with decreased TKI adherence, a higher likelihood of TKI discontinuation, and inferior survival.


ADMET & DMPK ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Thompson ◽  
Smitha P. Menon ◽  
Grace K. Dy

<p class="ADMETkeywordsheading">Discovery of the epidermal growth receptor (EGFR) activating mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements has expanded the therapeutic landscape in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Survival outcomes for patients with these mutations have improved dramatically with EGFR and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Multiple generations of EGFR and ALK TKIs have been rapidly developed, and patients and clinicians now have several options for first- and second-line treatments. While these small molecule TKIs have some similarities in therapeutic and pharmacologic profiles, the differences can be clinically substantial, allowing tailored treatment for each unique patient. This review details the clinical efficacy, pharmacology, safety profiles, CNS penetration, and mechanisms of resistance of the four EGFR TKIs and three ALK TKIs that are currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 623-637
Author(s):  
Christan M Thomas ◽  
Chung-Shien Lee

The brain is a common metastatic site in lung cancer. Approximately one-third of patients will develop brain metastases during the course of their disease. Median overall survival has been reported between 3 and 14.8 months in patients with brain metastases compared to other metastatic sites. In addition, the lifetime incidence of brain metastases is increasing due to prolonged survival seen in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients due to new systemic therapies and improved neuro-imaging techniques. Several targeted therapies—such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting epidermal growth factor receptors and anaplastic lymphoma kinase—are active in NSCLC and have data to suggested possible effectiveness against brain metastases in these patients.


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