Targeting ALK receptors in non-small cell lung cancer: what is the road ahead?

Introduction: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene-rearrangements are identified in about 3-5% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), and ALK-rearranged NSCLC is to be considered an oncogene-addicted cancer with peculiar clinical characteristics.

Areas covered: Several ALK inhibitors have been studied and approved for use in the treatment of advanced ALK-rearranged NSCLC with reported superiority in terms of efficacy and safety profile compared with chemotherapy. Second- and third-generation ALK inhibitors (alectinib, brigatinib, and lorlatinib) offer to NSCLC patients a clinically meaningful prolongment of survival with a very good quality of life profile. However, resistances to these agents always occur, with less satisfying options for second-line treatments. Direct comparisons among these agents are not available, and the choice among brigatinib, alectinib, and lorlatinib as first-line treatment remains challenging. Very recently, alectinib has been demonstrated to improve efficacy outcomes compared with chemotherapy also in resected stage IB-IIIA ALK-rearranged NSCLC, extending the clinical benefit offered by ALK inhibitors also to the adjuvant setting.

Expert opinion: Future development of ALK inhibitors in NSCLC treatment includes the search for optimal management of acquired resistance to first-line treatments and the extension of use of ALK inhibitors also to neoadjuvant and preferably to perioperative setting.