Dr. Drilon on Entrectinib in Patients With ROS1-Positive NSCLC

Alexander Drilon, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses a study exploring entrectinib in patients with ROS1-positive, advanced or metastatic non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during an interview at the IASLC 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Yokohama, Japan.

ROS1 arrangements occur in about 1% to 2% of lung cancers and are highly actionable drivers, Drilon explains. Moreover, entrectinib is a multikinase inhibitor with activity against ROS1, ALK, and NTRK. Data from a pooled phase I/II experience show that, in patients with ROS1-positive NSCLC, by investigator assessment, the objective response rate was 78.1% with entrectinib, and the median progression-free survival was 29.6 months.

Updated data from the IASLC meeting show that there may be better central nervous system efficacy with entrectinib compared with crizotinib. Additionally, preclinical data show that entrectinib is a more potent inhibitor than crizotinib.