Current problems in cancer
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Multicenter Study
Real world experience of treatment and outcome in ALK-rearranged metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer: A multicenter study from India.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearranged metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises 5%-7% of all lung cancer and carries a good prognosis with available ALK-inhibitors. Majority of registration trials in ALK-inhibitors did not include Indian patients. Hence, this study was planned to analyze the outcome of Indian patients treated with ALK-inhibitors and associated challenges. ⋯ This is one of the largest real-world data on outcome of ALK inhibitors in ALK-rearranged NSCLC from Asia. In absence of second line ALK inhibitor, initial chemotherapy followed by ALK-inhibitors (switch maintenance) had better outcome. This fact may be studied in individual patient data meta-analysis. Poor performance status and brain metastases at presentation are poor prognostic factors for overall survival. Second-line ALK inhibitor use crucial for better outcome and access to clinical trials are much needed in Indian patients.