Are there any new Clinical Trials recruiting for ALK-positive Lung Cancer?
Clinical trials for more advanced ALK inhibitors, like the TPX-131 study recruiting in Australia and the US, are exciting because they improve on drugs we know work well for ALK-positive lung cancer. However most clinical trials of new ALK treatments in the US and Europe involve combination therapies, designed to overcome ALK inhibitor resistance. As ALK lung cancer cells are whittled away by ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors like Alectinib, some cells evolve to avoid being harmed by the ALK inhibitor. These combination studies combine an ALK TKI with another treatment that stunts cancer growth. The hope is that the second treatment will inhibit TKI resistant cells as they persist or grow. The experimental treatments that are combined with TKIs are not specific to ALK, and some are already approved for use in other cancers.
ALK TKIs are combined with two different types of treatments in clinical trials. The first type of treatment is the physical elimination of cells or tumors that may be resistant to TKIs. There are studies that add localized surgery or radiation to TKIs at the start of treatment, and those that add radiation when resistance develops.
The second type of treatment is medication that inhibits cancer growth at different points in the cell multiplication cycle. There are studies that combine ALK TKIs with inhibitors of MEK, MET, VEGF, SHP2, or MTOR, which are all messengers in cell proliferation pathways. In some studies, biomarker testing can help determine which combination strategy may be most effective.
Although these combination trials may not seem as innovative as studies of novel ALK TKIs, they are testing exciting new treatment strategies that may prolong survival in ALK lung cancer.
Clinical trials play an important role in the long-term survival of many lung cancer patients. Below is a compilation of resources that will help ALK-positive patients and their care teams identify suitable clinical trials that are open to them.
ALK LUNG CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL HELP AND SEARCHING
ALK Positive Support Group Clinical Trials Spreadsheet*
GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer - LUNGMATCH
LUNGevity Online Clinical Trial Finder
CenterWatch Clinical Trials Search
MassiveBio Clinical Trials Search
General Info about ALK NSCLC Clinical Trials
As of July 2021, there are at least 45 clinical trials that are recruiting specifically for people with ALK-positive lung cancer. Many of these trials have multiple sites worldwide. Since ALK-positive lung cancer is a rare disease, it is difficult for any one oncologist to be aware of all the trials available. You can advocate for yourself and find a clinical trial that may be a good fit for you at any juncture in treatment.
*Spreadsheet developed by ALK Positive Volunteer Ellee Urban and ALK Positive MPAC in August 2018. Updated monthly and posted in the ALK Positive Support Group.
Disclaimer: these trials have been consolidated by a volunteer and should not be considered exhaustive. Listing of these trials is not an endorsement, and ALK Positive does not recommend one trial over another. Please talk with your doctor about these or any trials you are interested in.
Author: Ellee Urban