Targeted therapy lorlatinib shows promise in keeping advanced lung cancer patients disease-free for seven years
A Hong Kong-led global study found that the targeted therapy lorlatinib kept 55% of advanced ALK-positive lung cancer patients free from disease progression for at least seven years, compared to only 3% receiving an older first-generation drug. The seven-year study followed 296 previously untreated patients from multiple regions including Hong Kong, mainland China, the US, and Europe. The findings suggest advanced lung cancer could potentially be managed as a chronic condition rather than a terminal illness.
Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong released results from a seven-year study (2019-2025) examining the efficacy of lorlatinib, a third-generation targeted therapy, in treating advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The study enrolled 296 previously untreated patients from Hong Kong, mainland China, the United States, and Europe, with 149 receiving lorlatinib as first-line treatment and 147 receiving crizotinib as a control. Results showed that 55% of lorlatinib patients experienced no disease progression at seven years, compared to only 3% in the crizotinib group. Lead researcher Professor Tony Mok Shu-kam noted that patients on lorlatinib were able to continue normal lives while managing their condition with medication, similar to managing chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension. The findings represent a significant advancement in treating this specific type of advanced lung cancer.
What's missing
The study's limitations are not discussed, such as potential selection bias, dropout rates, adverse effects of lorlatinib, or whether the findings apply to other ALK-positive lung cancer subtypes or patient populations. Publication status in a peer-reviewed journal is not mentioned.
What different sources said
- South China Morning PostCenter
Targeted therapy could turn advanced lung cancer into chronic illness: CUHK study
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