Dr. Rotow on Remaining Questions With Brigatinib in ALK+ NSCLC

Julia Rotow, MD, medical oncologist, Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses remaining questions with brigatinib (Alunbrig) in ALK-positive non­—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Recently, updated data from the phase III ALTA-1L trial demonstrated an improvement in median progression-free survival with first-line brigatinib versus crizotinib (Xalkori) in patients with ALK inhibitor—naïve, advanced ALK-positive NSCLC.

Though brigatinib is not approved for frontline therapy in this space, Rotow believes the field will want to define the utility of brigatinib versus alectinib (Alecensa) in the frontline setting. The toxicities that are associated with the agents will likely be a determining factor in treatment selection.

Additionally, more research regarding the development of targeted therapies for patients who develop ALK-independent resistance is needed, concludes Rotow.