Four lines of anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors and brain radiotherapy in a long-surviving non-small-cell lung cancer anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis

Anticancer Drugs. 2019 Feb;30(2):201-204. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000699.

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common tumor and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Approximately 6.7% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) show anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement and could benefit from ALK-targeted treatment. Various anti-ALK drugs have been developed during the past years, but it is actually controversial which sequence and which ALK inhibitor is recommended for a single patient. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is associated with a poor prognosis, with an overall survival of 2-4 months for treated patients. The data about LC management derive mainly from retrospective studies, being an exclusion criterion for most trials. Intrathecal chemotherapy and whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), associated with a systemic treatment, are the most commonly used approach. Here we present a case of NSCLC harboring an ALK translocation treated with four lines of ALK inhibitors and receiving WBRT for LC, showing an overall survival of ∼5 years from the diagnosis of metastatic disease. This case report focuses mainly on several controversial clinical aspects, that is, the sequence of treatment in ALK-positive NSCLC, the ALK inhibitors' efficacy on brain disease and beyond progression, the management of LC, and the role of WBRT despite the risk of cognitive impairment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase / metabolism*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy*
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Crizotinib / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / metabolism
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / secondary
  • Meningeal Carcinomatosis / therapy*
  • Pemetrexed / administration & dosage
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Pemetrexed
  • Crizotinib
  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Cisplatin