In a nutshell
The authors aimed to analyze the safety and effectiveness of crizotinib (Xalkori) in Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Some background
NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer. In some patients with NSCLC, a gene called ALK is turned on (ALK positive) which leads to incorrect interaction of ALK with another gene: EML4. This gives rise to a 'fusion' gene called EML4-ALK that causes the cancerous growth of cells. Crizotinib, an oral drug, is shown to be effective in stopping the activity of EML4-ALK by targeting ALK.
In a previously published study, treatment of advanced NSCLC with crizotinib resulted in a longer progression-free survival (time following treatment before the disease progresses) compared to chemotherapy.
Methods & findings
Data from 40 Chinese patients with ALK-positive, advanced- stage (stage IV) NSCLC were reviewed. All patients received crizotinib at a dose of 250/200 mg twice daily for 5 cycles. Of 40 patients, 6 received primary treatment with crizotinib, 17 had one prior treatment and the remaining 17 patients had two prior treatments.
At the end of the follow-up period, 70% of patients had a 50% decrease in tumor growth (partial response). Disease progression occurred in 30% of patients. The average progression-free survival was 28 weeks and average overall survival was 40 weeks. Whether or not patients had received previous treatment did not appear to alter the benefit of crizotinib.
Some of the treatment-related adverse events included vomiting (47.5%), vision disorder (27.5%) and increased liver toxicity (42%).
The bottom line
The authors concluded that treatment with crizotinib was safe and effective in ALK-positive advanced stage NSCLC patients.
Published By :
PLOS ONE
Date :
Dec 12, 2014
