Long-term response to Crizotinib in a 17-year-old boy with naive
alk-positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. NSCLC accounts
for 80-90% of cases. In younger patients, adenocarcinoma is the most
frequent histotype and 3-7% expresses the rearrange-ment of ALK
oncogene, sensitive to TKIs. Crizotinib is the first ALK inhibitor
approved by FDA. We present the case of a 17-year-old male with
metastatic naïve ALK-positive adenocarcinoma, treated with crizotinib.
He received crizotinib and obtained a prolonged response with PFS of 33
months. Crizotinib can be extremely effective in adolescent with naïve
ALK-positive NSCLC but it hardly penetrates blood-brain barrier.
Resistance mechanisms will be investigated for a better man-agement.