Karen L. Reckamp, MD, is director of Medical Oncology, associate director of Clinical Research, and the medical oncology director of the Lung Institute at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars Sinai

Karen L. Reckamp, MD, director, Medical Oncology, associate director, Clinical Research, medical oncology director, Lung Institute, Samuel Oschin Cancer Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses the significance of the final results of the ALTA studies in ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

During the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, the final results of the ALTA trial demonstrated sustained long-term activity with brigatinib (Alunbrig) in patients with ALK-positive, crizotinib (Xalkori)-refractory NSCLC.

In the phase 1/2 study, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 14.5 months in all patients with a median follow-up of 27.7 months. The last patient was enrolled on the study 5.6 years prior to the final results. In arm B of the ALTA trial, the median PFS was 16.7 months with a median follow-up of 28.3 months. The last patient was enrolled 4.4 years prior to the final results of the study. 

Although crizotinib is no longer typically utilized in the frontline setting for patients with 

-positive NSCLC, understanding the long-term durability of responses with brigatinib in this patient population is important, says Reckamp. 

-altered NSCLC is relatively rare, so determining the optimal sequencing of the multiple, efficacious ALK inhibitors available in this setting is clinically meaningful, Reckamp concludes.

Videos

Karen L. Reckamp, MD, discusses the significance of the final results of the ALTA trial in patients with ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer.



Dr. Reckamp on the Significance of ALTA in ALK+ NSCLC 

Karen L. Reckamp, MD, MS, discusses pivotal findings with the highly selective MET inhibitors, tepotinib and capmatinib in patients with MET exon 14-altered advanced non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In the VISION study, tepotinib demonstrated a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 9 to 12 months in this patient population, according to Reckamp, adding that this is very comparable with frontline chemotherapy plus immunotherapy or immunotherapy alone in patients with high PD-L1 expression. Reckamp believes tepotinib looks to be a potential first-line treatment for patients with MET exon 14-altered advanced NSCLC.

In the GEOMETRY study, capmatinib showed a 68% response rate in the frontline setting and a median PFS of 9.6 months, according to Reckamp. In these patients, there was a 50% response rate in the brain for patients who had measurable disease in the brain.

Karen L. Reckamp, MD, MS, discusses pivotal findings with the highly selective MET inhibitors, tepotinib and capmatinib in patients with MET exon 14-altered advanced non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Reckamp on Pivotal Data in METex14-Altered NSCLC

Karen Reckamp, MD, MS, medical oncologist, City of Hope, discusses the role of molecular testing for patients with lung cancer.

Molecular testing is important because there are genes that have specific targeted drugs available, explains Reckamp.

According to Reckamp, moving towards next-generation sequencing is important so that there is more access for more patients but it needs to be made affordable.

Karen Reckamp, MD, MS

Articles

Dr. Reckamp on the Significance of ALTA in ALK+ NSCLC

Dr. Reckamp on Pivotal Data in METex14-Altered NSCLC

Dr. Reckamp on Molecular Testing in Lung Cancer