Safety of alectinib for the treatment of metastatic ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer

Introduction: Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may derive significant clinical benefit from targeted therapies against this driver mutation, but progression is virtually inevitable. Alectinib is a next-generation ALK inhibitor that provides a novel treatment option for this group of patients.

Areas covered: In this review, we summarize the overall safety and tolerability of alectinib. Specifically, we cover cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, musculoskeletal, and respiratory adverse events. The safety profile of alectinib is also described in special populations and in comparison with other ALK inhibitors.

Expert opinion: Alectinib is a well-tolerated tyrosine kinase inhibitor and should be considered for patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC. The question then arises as to how to choose a next-generation ALK inhibitor in the second-line setting. Understanding acquired resistant mechanisms has become essential. Whether or not to use alectinib in the first-line setting is extremely controversial, but we anticipate its approval for this indication and availability in more countries in the near future.