Exploring Treatment Options for Patients with ALK-Mutated Lung Cancer

Kevin M. Sullivan, MD, assistant professor of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health School of Medicine, discusses the current treatment options for patients with lung cancer harboring anALKmutation.

The current frontline standard of care forALK-mutated lung cancer is ALK-directed therapy. Most physicians are using alectinib (Alecensa) now for the treatment of these patients, Sullivan says. Upon progression, there are a number of new agents available, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) lorlatinib (Lorbrena) and brigatinib (Alunbrig), for these patients.

Upon progression following initial frontline therapy, many physicians also send out samples for further testing. Blood circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing is used to discover any evidence of genomic alterations that might guide systemic therapy choices. Other ALK-directed compounds are in development, including other TKIs. These agents are still early in development at this point, Sullivan says.

Seemore information on the ALK inhibitors coming down the pipeline here:https://www.targetedonc.com/publications/targeted-therapy-news/2019/September-2019/activity-with-alk-inhibitor-sequencing-sparks-hope-for-patients-with-nsclc-