LDK378 in ALK+ Crizotinib-Resistant NSCLC Patients

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Alice T. Shaw, MD, PhD, an attending physician in the Center for Thoracic Cancers at Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the results of a trial looking at LDK378 for patients with ALK+ crizotinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer.

The results of the trial were remarkable, Shaw says, as nearly all patients in this population responded to LDK378.

In the case of EGFR-mutant lung cancer, there has been limited success once patients develop resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Because of this, it was unclear how successful ALK inhibitors would be in their respective space, but researchers were pleasantly surprised.

Clinical Pearls

In the study, about 60% of patients responded, Shaw says. An additional 20-30% responded to treatment with LDK378, though formal criteria for a response was not met.

• Nearly all crizotinib-resistant NSCLC patients responded to LDK378
• EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients have seen limited success following resistance to EGFR inhibitors
• About 60% of crizotinib-resistant patients responded to LDK378, with an additional 20-30% demonstrating some response