The present investigation retrospectively examined the therapeutic impact of crizotinib in a cohort of patients diagnosed with ALK-positive metastatic lung cancer. A total of 25 individuals participated, and survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Among the participants, 52% (13 patients) were male, and the mean age was 55 years, spanning from 30 to 80 years. Notably, 92% (23 patients) presented with de novo metastatic disease. Central nervous system involvement was observed in 32%, while 20% exhibited hepatic metastases. Before the administration of crizotinib, 64% had received systemic chemotherapy, and 20% underwent palliative radiation. The median progression-free survival was calculated at 16.8 months (95% CI: 5.7–27.9). Adverse effects of grade 1–2 severity were recorded in 36% of cases, whereas 12% experienced grade 3–4 toxicities. Upon disease progression, 52% (13 patients) transitioned to alternative therapies, including second-generation ALK inhibitors such as alectinib, ceritinib, or lorlatinib, or received additional chemotherapy. Median overall survival reached 44.2 months (95% CI: 28.5–59.9), with a 37.4% survival rate at the four-year mark. Multivariate analysis identified the ALK positivity ratio as a statistically significant prognostic variable for overall survival (P = 0.02). These results highlight the clinical benefit and tolerability of crizotinib in the management of ALK-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and reinforce the prognostic relevance of ALK positivity in predicting long-term survival.
Eurasian Academy of Medicine and Dentistry