Crizotinib for ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer: a new targeted therapy for a new target

Crizotinib (PF02341066, Xalkori; Pfizer) was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as defined by a jointly approved diagnostic test using a break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization assay. The approval was based on dramatic response rates in ALK-positive NSCLC patients of 54% to 61% in phase I and II trials. To date, the overall disease control rates in these trials are close to 90%. Progression-free survival approaches 10 months. This review focuses on the ALK-inhibitory activity of crizotinib in preclinical and clinical trials that led to approval, as well as the diagnostic methods to classify patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. Although these patients represent a small subset of all patients with NSCLC, the rapid time course from identification of this unique target to an approved targeted therapy with striking benefit serves as a paradigm for the development of targeted therapeutics in an era of personalized medicine.