ALK Positive Lung Cancer: 68 Real Stories

68 stories match lung cancer and ALK positive. 62 of them mention targeted therapy.

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

ALK-positive lung cancer spreading to both breasts after years of targeted therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive, ALK mutation

Metastatic Site: bilateral breasts

At age 51, about 10 years after his Stage IV diagnosis, he remained alive with stable disease 8 months after removal of bilateral breast metastases while continuing maintenance therapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IIIA ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma: pathologic complete response to lorlatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: EML4-ALK fusion; ALK-positive; Napsin A-positive; cytokeratin-positive; TTF-1-positive

He remained disease-free 10 months after surgery while continuing planned adjuvant lorlatinib after neoadjuvant lorlatinib produced partial radiographic response and pathologic complete response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IIIA ALK-rearranged NSCLC: pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant brigatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: ALK gene rearrangement; CEA 8.49 ng/mL

He remained disease-free during 13 months of follow-up after neoadjuvant brigatinib reduced Stage IIIA ALK-rearranged NSCLC and curative-intent surgery showed pathologic complete response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Niko, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Niko's Patient Story

Patient Info: Niko, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation/rearrangement

Metastatic Site: Lymph nodes; Brain

As of May 2024, Niko’s Stage IV ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma was controlled on ALK-targeted therapy, with no brain lesion seen on follow-up MRI/PET-CT and active disease described as dormant/stable.

YouTube (ZH search)
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

ALK-positive lung cancer treated with alectinib throughout pregnancy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK rearrangement / fusion-positive

Metastatic Site: pleura; liver; bone; brain

Alectinib produced a complete radiologic response and maintained intracranial control through pregnancy. She delivered a healthy infant at 37 weeks, with normal development at 26 months.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Keegan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Keegan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Keegan Murphy, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK fusion mutation

Metastatic Site: Lungs; lymph nodes; ribs/bone; abdomen

As of March 2024, Keegan had gone from Stage IV ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma with tumors in the lungs, lymph nodes, ribs, and abdomen to no evidence of disease after alectinib and surgery.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Matt, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Matt's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Matt Hiznay, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Not reported

As of November 2023, Matt was a 12-year survivor with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer in remission, no evidence of disease, and ongoing lorlatinib treatment.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Christine, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Christine's Patient Story

Patient Info: Christine, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain | Liver

As of October 2023, Christine was living with Stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC that remained in check on targeted therapy after alectinib cleared brain and liver spots and lorlatinib continued, with significant chronic side effects.

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Dan, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Dan's Patient Story

Patient Info: Dan, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive / ALK-rearranged

As of November 2022, Dan was living with Stage IV ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer on Alectinib, with stable scans since spring 2020 and ongoing monitoring.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Bekah, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Bekah's Patient Story

Patient Info: Bekah Cunningham, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: breast

Maintenance scans remained clear 6 years after starting alectinib, and she continued to live an active life with Stage IV lung cancer.

Dana-Farber
OutcomeResponding Well
Shyreece, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Shyreece's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shyreece, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK rearrangement / ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Brain

As of March 2022, Shyreece was a long-term Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer survivor with later brain metastases, ongoing treatment decisions, and advocacy focused on biomarker testing, trials, and disparities in Black lung cancer care.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Shyreece, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Shyreece's Patient Story

Patient Info: Shyreece Pompey, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive mutation identified by FISH testing

As of March 2022, Shyreece was living and advocating nearly 8 years after being diagnosed with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer; this segment does not report treatment response or a remission/NED status.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Alectinib restored vision from an eye metastasis of ALK-positive lung cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive.

Metastatic Site: right choroid of the eye; liver; bone; brain

After nearly eight months of response to alectinib, the lung cancer progressed in the liver, bone, and brain; lorlatinib was started, but he died on July 3, 2020.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
James, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: James's Patient Story

Patient Info: James “Rocky” Lagno, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: brain

After starting ceritinib through compassionate use, Rocky reported stable disease from the middle of 2013 with quality of life close to his pre-diagnosis level, while recognizing that he was not in remission or cancer-free.

AACR
OutcomeStable Disease
Amanda, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV ALK Lung Adenocarcinoma: Amanda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amanda Nerstad, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

She achieved a complete metabolic response on alectinib and had shown no evidence of disease since November 2017 while continuing treatment.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Delayed Adrenal Insufficiency After Nivolumab for Stage IV Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR unmutated; ALK unmutated; ROS1 unmutated

His weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and orthostatic hypotension resolved after hormone replacement, and he returned home independently.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported