Long-Term Response of Lorlatinib to Leptomeningeal Metastasis in Patients with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Fusion Positive Non-Small Lung Cancer: A Case Report.

Introduction: Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are at increased risk of central nervous system (CNS) metastasis at initial diagnosis and throughout treatment. In a phase 3 trial, lorlatinib, a third-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, significantly improved progression-free survival. In further analysis, lorlatinib revealed superior intracranial efficacy and prolonged time to intracranial progression compared with crizotinib.
Case Presentation: Herein, we report a case of ALK-positive NSCLC with leptomeningeal metastasis that was successfully treated with lorlatinib after progression to brigatinib and alectinib. This case demonstrates the potential of lorlatinib in managing leptomeningeal metastasis in ALK-positive NSCLC.
Conclusion: The case suggests a paradigm shift in therapeutic approaches for CNS metastasis, including brain and leptomeningeal metastases.
Competing Interests: Y.F. reports receiving personal fees for honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Merck Biopharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Novocure, Ono Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Takeda, and Taiho Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work; personal fees for being on the advisory board from AstraZeneca, Chiome Bioscience, Daiichi-Sankyo, Micron, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and Ono Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work; and research grants from AbbVie, Amgen, AnHeart, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Incyte, Merck KGaA, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Taiho Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work. R.M. reports receiving personal fees for honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Ono Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, and Taiho Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work. T.Y. reports receiving personal fees for honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Merck Biopharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Ono Pharmaceutical, and Taiho Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work, and reports receiving personal fees for being on the advisory board from Daiichi-Sankyo. J.S. reports receiving personal fees for honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca, Amgen, Chugai, Merck Biopharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Taiho Pharmaceutical, and Takeda Pharmaceutical, outside the submitted work. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)