A recent clinical trial of a drug used for treating lung cancer has heralded “a remarkable advancement.” Lung cancer is one of the most dire causes of death relating to cancer across the globe.
The protein anaplastic lymphoma kinase plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth. It is produced by the ALK gene. In certain cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer , this gene can be rearranged. Among these, ALK-positive tumors occur in approximately 3% to 5% of cases. ALK-positive NSCLC tends to be more aggressive and is often found in younger individuals with little to no smoking history.Lorlatinib is a third-generation ALK inhibitor. It is the latest in a class of drugs used as the standard first-line treatment for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.
Lorlatinib is administered as a once-daily tablet, while crizotinib is taken twice daily. The primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival, with key secondary endpoints including overall survival and brain metastasis.