[Central nervous system disorders on lorlatinib: How to detect and manage in practice?]

Vincent Fallet1, Pascal Rouby2, Guido Ahle3

  • 1Tenon Hospital, Department of Pneumology and Thoracic Oncology, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris and GRC 4, Theranoscan, Sorbonne Université, 75020 Paris, France.

Bulletin Du Cancer
|March 8, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Lorlatinib effectively treats advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer but can cause neuro-psychiatric side effects in nearly 40% of patients. Early detection and management strategies are crucial for optimizing treatment tolerance and patient quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment has advanced with targeted therapies like lorlatinib.
  • Lorlatinib, approved in July 2020, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for ALK-positive NSCLC.
  • TKIs, including lorlatinib, can cause central nervous system (CNS) side effects, impacting cognitive function, speech, and mood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the challenge of detecting and managing neuro-psychiatric side effects associated with lorlatinib treatment in ALK-positive NSCLC.
  • To propose practical screening and management strategies for CNS side effects to improve patient quality of life and treatment adherence.
  • To provide guidance for clinicians based on literature and expert clinical experience.

Main Methods:

  • A multidisciplinary expert panel convened to discuss lorlatinib-induced CNS side effects.
  • The panel comprised pulmonologists, medical oncologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, pharmacists, and nurses.
  • Discussions focused on literature review and clinical experience to develop management elements.

Main Results:

  • Neuro-psychiatric effects occur in nearly 40% of patients treated with lorlatinib, mostly mild to moderate.
  • Existing screening tools may not be adequately adapted for routine clinical practice.
  • The expert panel aimed to establish practical management elements for early detection and optimization of treatment tolerance.

Conclusions:

  • Early detection of CNS disorders during lorlatinib therapy is essential for patient well-being.
  • Implementing proposed screening and management strategies can help optimize patient care.
  • Multidisciplinary collaboration is key to effectively managing lorlatinib-related neuro-psychiatric side effects in ALK-positive NSCLC.

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