ALK+ Lung Cancer

There are two types of lung cancer:

Pie chart with sections labeled 85, 15, and 5, with the largest section highlighted in light orange, the 15 in blue, and the 5 in darker orange.

Non small cell lung cancer makes up 85% of all lung cancer cases

5% of these cases are ALK+

Small cell lung cancer makes up 15% of all lung cancer cases

Cartoon illustration of a blue chromosome with eyes and limbs, connecting to two smaller brown and blue striped structures, representing proteins, with DNA strands on the left and wavy lines on the right, labeled with scientific terms.

ALK+ lung cancer is caused by a genetic mutation:

Everyone has the ALK gene, which contains instructions for making the ALK protein. A random DNA mutation can cause the ALK gene to fuse with another gene, most often EML4. This fusion turns the ALK gene on and produces abnormal ALK-fusion proteins. Unlike normal ALK proteins, these fusion proteins send signals that turn cells cancerous.

Learn more about the biological basis of ALK

Why did I get ALK+ lung cancer:

ALK+ lung cancer is caused by a random genetic change. It is not because of something you did or something that was passed down to you by a family member. You also cannot pass it down to your children.

icon reads: 50% under 50.

50% of ALK+ cancer patients are diagnosed before the age of 50, some in their teens or 20's

icon reads: 2/3 have never smoked.

Unlike small cell lung cancer, ALK+ lung cancer also affects those who have never smoked

Icon reads: people of East Asian ethnicity.

ALK+ lung cancer tends to be more common in people of East Asian ethnicity, and in women.

Treatment options:

Icon of ALK pill bottle

  • ALK inhibitors are oral medicines (pills you swallow) that block the abnormal ALK-fusion proteins from sending signals that turn cells cancerous. Most ALK+ lung cancers respond best to this treatment.

    Types of ALK Inhibitors:

    • Lorlatinib (3rd generation)- particularly effective at treating brain metastases

    • Alectinib (2nd generation)

    • Brigatinib (2nd generation)

    • Crizotinib (1st generation)

    At some point during treatment, the cancer may start to grow again: this may require surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a change to another ALK inhibitor.

Icon of chemotherapy treatment.

  • Chemotherapy utilizes drugs that kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. Because chemotherapy affects more than just the cancer cells, there are more side effects including hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and low blood counts.

Icon of surgical intervention

  • In some cases, surgery can be used to remove lung tumors and nearby lymph nodes. This is most useful in early stages when the cancer hasn’t spread. Surgery is often used in combination with other treatments.

Icon of radiation treatment.

  • Uses high energy beams to destroy cancer cells in specific areas. This type of treatment is effective for specific areas, such as brain metastases, but does not treat cancer throughout the whole body.

Lung anatomy:

Illustration of lung anatomy: right lobe of the lung made up of three lobes- the superior, middle, and inferior lobes. Left lobe of the lung is made up of two lobes- the superior and inferior. The trachea, bronchus, bronchiole, lymph nodes.

Stages of Lung Cancer

  • Diagram of human lungs showing bronchi and a black spot indicating stage 1 cancer.

    Stage 1

    EARLY STAGE

    The tumor is 4cm or smaller.

  • Illustration of a human lungs with bronchial tubes and lymph nodes, showing a dark spot on the right lung indicating stage 2 cancer

    Stage 2

    EARLY STAGE

    The tumor is 3-7 cm but has not spread to other organs.

  • Illustration of human lungs showing dark spots indicating stage 3 lung cancer

    Stage 3

    LOCALLY ADVANCED

    The tumor has grown into tissues and lymph nodes in the chest.

  • Medical illustration of human lungs showing dark spots indicating stage 4 lung cancer. Dark spots have arrows indicating cancer has spread outside the lungs

    Stage 4

    METASTATIC

    The cancer has spread to one or more organs outside the chest.

Outlook for people living with ALK+ lung cancer:

SURVIVING LONGER

ALK+ lung cancer is often diagnosed at later stages when it cannot be cured. However, targeted therapies such as ALK inhibitors are highly effective at controlling the disease. Current data show a median survival of seven years after diagnosis, meaning many people live even longer.

LEARNING MORE

In recent years, significant advances have been made in the treatment of ALK+ lung cancer. Ongoing research continues to improve therapies and deepen understanding of the disease. As a result, the outlook for people living with ALK+ lung cancer is expected to keep improving.

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