Safety issues with the ALK inhibitors in the treatment of NSCLC: A systematic review

Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are known to have peculiar toxicity profile, hence, increasing awareness to the safety profile of ALK inhibitors is essential.
A comprehensive systematic review of literature has been conducted to include prospective trials that used the ALK inhibitors Crizotinib, Ceritinib, Alectinib, Brigatinib and Lorlatinib in patients with advanced NSCLC and have available efficacy and toxicity results.
Most of adverse effects of ALKi can be managed efficiently via dose modifications or interruptions. Timely identification of each ALKi pattern of toxicity can prevent treatment-related morbidity and mortality in this palliative setting. READ ARTICLE

Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
DOI:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2018.11.004

Authors: Loay Kassem, Kyrillus S. Shohdy, Shaimaa Lasheen, Omar Abdel-Rahman, Ahmad Ali and Raafat R.Abdel-Malek

Review Paper, group2Kirk SmithNovember 29, 2021ALK inhibitors, Non-small cell lung cancer, Adverse effects

Revisiting a lower starting dose of alectinib in ALK-Positive non-small cell lung cancer

We present here a case of ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma that has been started on Alectinib. Treatment has been initiated at the recommended initial dose, but it subsequently required a dose adjustment following adverse drug events. Alectinib is a second-generation, CNS-active, tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Its efficacy as a first-line treatment and as a second-line agent after Crizotinib has been proven across several trials both in terms of overall response rate and progression-free survival. The use of Alectinib is associated with side effects that occasionally lead to treatment discontinuation, interruption, or dose adjustment. Several studies have used two starting doses – 300 mg and 600 mg twice daily – across different populations and have consistently shown efficacy of Alectinib for both treatment doses. Results of these studies have also revealed that body weight, rather than race, affect the pharmacokinetics of A..... READ ARTICLE

Cancer Treatment and Research Communications DOI:10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100319

Authors: Danielle Benedict Sacdalan and Josephine Anne Luceroc

Case StudyKirk SmithJanuary 23, 2021ALK, Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), alectinib, Dose-reduction, Adverse effects