The FDA just approved a new therapy for the approximately 4% of patients with NSCLC who have the molecular marker known as an ALK rearrangement. The agent Zykadia (ceritinib), a "second generation" ALK inhibitor that is more effective than Xalkori (crizotinib) in lab models of ALK-positive NSCLC, and the new approval was for Zykadia as first line treatment for ALK-positive lung cancer, a setting where we have historically favored Xalkori since it was approved in 2011. .

Dr. Nathan Pennell, Cleveland Clinic, discusses acquired resistance to Xalkori in ALK-positive patients, and second generation inhibitors designed to overcome that resistance, such as Zykadia and alectinib.

Xalkori (critzotinib) was the first approved treatment for ALK+ and ROS1 lung cancer. Since then, other drugs have been approved or are currently undergoing scientific review. In this video, Dr. Owonikoko outlines these options for patients.

Drs. Leora Horn, Ben Solomon, & Jack West review whether there are specific factors that should make one second generation ALK inhibitor more ideal than other competing options for a specific patient with an ALK rearrangement.

Drs. Ben Solomon, Leora Horn, & Jack West evaluate the evidence and consider whether there are clinically significant differences among the second generation ALK inhibitors that would lead to a reason to prefer one over another for a particular patient.

WHAT: Acquired Resistance in Lung Cancer Patient Forum
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015
WHERE: Marriott Waterfront San Francisco, 1800 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010
WHO: ALK, ROS1 & EGFR lung cancer patients and their caregivers

REGISTER HERE

An annual tradition is a reflection on the key developments in the field over the past year. This year saw some major advances, with several of the biggest changes bubbling just below the surface and about to really break out in 2015.  So without further adieu, here's my list.

For those who wish to access the pdf, it's here: Top 5 Highlights in Lung Cancer 2014

Agree? Disagree? What's highest on your wish list for 2015?

Acquired Resistance Forum Video #14: Speakers from video #11 and video #12 at the Acquired Resistance in Lung Cancer Patient Forum sat for a moderated Q&A with Dr. Jack West.

Acquired Resistance Forum Video #10: Online advocate and ROS1 patient "Craig In PA" Uthe leads a Q&A with speakers from videos #8 and #9 at the Acquired Resistance in Lung Cancer Patient Forum.

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Acquired Resistance Forum Video #9: Dr. Alice Shaw of Massachusetts General Hospital detailed for patients the so-called "next generation" ALK/ROS1 inhibitors, both those commercially available and those still in development.