Effective Crizotinib schedule for an elderly patient with ALK rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer: a case report

Last Updated on March 8, 2016 by Joseph Gut – thasso

Fukuizumi A, Miyanaga A, Seike M, Kato Y, Nakamichi S, Chubachi K, Matsumoto M, Noro R, Minegishi Y, Kunugi S, Kubota K, Gemma A

BMC Res Notes 2015;8:165

PMID: 25899913

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harboring translocations in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are highly sensitive to small-molecule ALK kinase inhibitors, such as crizotinib.

CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case of post-operative local recurrence of lung adenocarcinoma in an 81 year-old male. He underwent radiation and received chemotherapy with docetaxel, but neither treatment regimen was effective. Following identification of ALK rearrangements, crizotinib treatment was initiated. After treatment with crizotinib for 5 days, adverse events including acute renal failure (grade 2/CTCAE ver4.0) and congestive heart failure (grade 3) occurred. Crizotinib modified treatment was required. Half dose of crizotinib treatment could not control tumor progression. Ultimately, crizotinib was administrated at a dose of 250 mg twice daily every 3 day dosing for 13 months with maintenance of the anti-tumor effect.

CONCLUSION: This is the first case report that skip schedule was more effective than dose reduction daily in crizotinib administration for ALK rearranged NSCLC patient with severe adverse events.