ALK inhibitor

ALK inhibitors are potential anti-cancer drugs that act on tumours with variations of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) such as an EML4-ALK translocation.[1]

EML4-ALK

About 7% of Non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) have EML4-ALK translocations.[2]

Crizotinib is in clinical trials for NSCLC.[2] with good results in phase II. [3] FDA approved in Aug 2011.

AP26113 is at the preclinical stage.[4]

NPM-ALK

NPM-ALK is a different variation/fusion of ALK that drives anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCLs) and is the target of other ALK inhibitors.[5] [6]

References

  1. ^ Nelsen (2010). "ALK Inhibitors: Possible New Treatment for Lung Cancer". http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715243. 
  2. ^ a b Farmer (2010). "Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Standards of Care Challenged by a Cornucopia of New Drugs". http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/treatment-paradigm-shifting-for-nsclc/3423?page=1. 
  3. ^ Chustecka (2010). "Crizotinib in ALK-NSCLC; Response Rate "Unprecedented"". http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/723075. 
  4. ^ "ARIAD presents AP26113 investigational ALK inhibitor preclinical study data at AACR annual meeting". 2010. http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100421/ARIAD-presents-AP26113-investigational-ALK-inhibitor-preclinical-study-data-at-AACR-annual-meeting.aspx. 
  5. ^ Galkin et al (2007). "Identification of NVP-TAE684, a potent, selective, and efficacious inhibitor of NPM-ALK". http://www.pnas.org/content/104/1/270.short. 
  6. ^ http://www.axonmedchem.com/product/1416tae684.html