First-Line Lorlatinib Versus Crizotinib in Asian Patients With Advanced ALK-Positive NSCLC: Five-Year Outcomes From the CROWN Study

Abstract

Introduction: Lorlatinib, a third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor, reported significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than crizotinib in the phase 3 CROWN trial (NCT03052608) in patients with previously untreated advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive NSCLC. Efficacy was similar in the Asian subgroup. We present an updated subgroup analysis in Asian patients after five years of follow-up.

Methods: Patients were randomly (1:1) assigned to receive lorlatinib 100 mg once daily (n = 59) or crizotinib 250 mg twice daily (n = 61). This post hoc analysis presents updated investigator-assessed efficacy outcomes, safety, and biomarker analyses.

Results: After a median follow-up of 62.4 months for lorlatinib and 55.1 months for crizotinib, median PFS was not reached (NR, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 64.3‒NR) and 9.2 months (95% CI: 7.2‒12.7), respectively (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13‒0.37); the five-year PFS was 63% (95% CI: 49-74) and 7% (95% CI: 2-17). The objective response rate was 81% (95% CI: 69-90) with lorlatinib and 59% (95% CI: 46‒71) with crizotinib. In patients with baseline brain metastases, the intracranial objective response rate was 69% (95% CI: 39‒91) with lorlatinib and 6% (95% CI: <1‒30) with crizotinib. The median time to intracranial progression was NR (95% CI: NR‒NR) and 14.6 months (95% CI: 9.2‒27.4), respectively (HR = 0.01, 95% CI: <0.01‒0.11). Safety profiles were consistent with the entire population.

Conclusions: After five years of follow-up, lorlatinib efficacy and safety in the Asian subgroup of CROWN continue to be consistent with those in the overall population, with PFS remaining unreached with lorlatinib.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03052608.

Keywords: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase; Lorlatinib; Non–small cell lung cancer; Phase 3; Progression-free survival.