How effective is Alecensa for ALK-positive NSCLC?
Alecensa (alectinib) is used to treat anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non-small cell lung cancer (ALK-positive NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body. Alecensa is also used as an adjuvant treatment in adult patients following tumor resection of (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when tumors ≥ 4 cm or node positive, as detected by an FDA-approved test.
How effective is Alecensa (alectinib) at treating metastatic ALK+ NSCLC?
The updated results from the ALEX clinical trial (NCT02075840) shows that alectinib (Alecensa) is very effective at treating ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (ALK-positive NSLC cancer), as it significantly prolonged the median progression-free survival to 34.8 months compared to 10.9 months for crizotinib.
For patients with ALK-positive NSLC cancer that has spread to the central nervous system (CNS), alectinib was effective in increasing progression-free survival to 25.4 months compared to 7.4 months for crizotinib .
The recent updated results from the ALEX clinical trial showed a higher 5-year overall survival rate for alectinib of 62.5% compared to 45.5% with crizotinib.
Related questions
- What is the mechanism of action for Alecensa (alectinib)?
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How effective is Alecensa (alectinib) as Adjuvant Treatment of Resected ALK-Positive NSCLC?
Phase III ALINA study showed that Alecensa reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by 76% compared with platinum-based chemotherapy in people with completely resected IB (tumor ≥ 4 cm) to IIIA ALK-positive NSCLC, in people with ALK-positive early-stage resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Bottom line
ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC
- Alectinib has been shown to increase the median progression-free survival to 34.8 months (compared to 10.9 for crizotinib)
- Alectinib has an increase in the 5-year overall survival rate to 62.5% compared to 45.5% to crizotinib.
Adjuvant Treatment of Resected ALK-Positive NSCLC
- Alecensa reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by 76% compared with platinum-based chemotherapy.
References
- Updated overall survival and final progression-free survival data for patients with treatment-naive advanced ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer in the ALEX study: https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(20)39796-9/fulltext
- Alectinib versus Crizotinib in Untreated ALK-Positive Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1704795
- FDA Approves Genentech's Alecensa as First Adjuvant Treatment for People With ALK-Positive Early-Stage Lung Cancer https://www.gene.com/media/press-releases/15023/2024-04-18/fda-approves-genentechs-alecensa-as-firs#:~:text=Genentech%2C%20a%20member%20of%20the,lung%20cancer%20(NSCLC)%20(tumors
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Drug information
- Alecensa Information for Consumers
- Alecensa prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Alecensa (detailed)
- Alecensa user reviews (2)
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