ALKtALK with Dr. Timothy Burns and Dr. Joshua Palmer

Navigating Brain Progression in ALK+ Cancer: TKIs, Radiation, LMD, and More

For ALK-positive patients, brain progression is one of the most feared parts of a lung cancer diagnosis. When the progression happens, the questions come fast: Do I stay on my current TKI? Do I radiate? Do I need surgery? And what about leptomeningeal disease, how do you even know what you’re dealing with?

Sunday, May 3rd at 7:00pm ET, ALKtALK welcomes Timothy Burns, MD, PhD, and Joshua Palmer, MD, both from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital (OSUCCC – James). Dr. Burns is a thoracic oncologist and Professor of Medicine specializing in targeted therapies for oncogene-driven lung cancers. Dr. Palmer is a radiation oncologist and Associate Professor specializing in central nervous system malignancies, with expertise in the intersection of TKIs and stereotactic radiosurgery for ALK-driven lung cancer.

Drs. Burns and Palmer will walk us through the full landscape of brain progression, including:

• When to stay on your current TKI and add radiation, and when switching makes more sense

• The role of surgery and steroids
• Radiation necrosis versus true progression, and how to monitor changes over time
• Managing symptoms and quality of life
• Leptomeningeal disease (LMD): how it’s diagnosed, what scans and studies to advocate for, and why the treatment landscape is more hopeful than many patients expect

A live Q&A will follow the discussion, giving you the opportunity to ask questions of both experts. For those unable to join live, the recording will be available on the ALK Positive YouTube channel.

Whether you or your loved one is navigating brain progression now or educating yourself for the road ahead, we invite you to join this important ALKtALK and stay connected to the information shaping our community.