Lorlatinib for Lung Cancer: 13 Real Stories

Diagnosed at 38, a Veteran, Living with ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Laura's Story

Patient Info: Laura, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Three years after diagnosis, Laura remained on lorlatinib with improved energy and quality of life while continuing to live with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer.

GO2 FoundationRead more →

Stage III ALK Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Michelle's Patient Story

Patient Info: Michelle Bos-Lun, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Stage IIIB ALK-positive lung cancer responding to Lorbrena/lorlatinib, with cough improvement within days and first scan showing nearly 50% tumor reduction.

GO2 FoundationRead more →

Stage IV ALK Lung Cancer: Ruchira's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ruchira, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Although the disease progressed to Stage IV after lobectomy, ALK testing led to lorlatinib; she reported no evidence of disease after 3 months and continued daily targeted therapy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

ALK-fusion lung adenocarcinoma with pleural progression: alectinib toxicity and switch to lorlatinib

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

Biomarkers: EML4::ALK fusion positive

Metastatic Site: pleura

After pleural progression, disease was stable on ALK-targeted therapy; lorlatinib was tolerated after alectinib-related hemolysis and bradycardia resolved.

PubMed CentralRead more →

ROS1-rearranged Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma: sequential targeted therapy and 73-month survival

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

Biomarkers: CD74-ROS1 C6:R33 fusion; CTNNB1 p.Thr41Ala; APC p.Glu601fs; acquired ROS1 resistance mutation; mTOR p. mutation; FGFR3 gene amplification

Metastatic Site: contralateral lung nodules, brain, pleura

She died on October 6, 2024, after sequential crizotinib, lorlatinib, and cabozantinib for Stage IV ROS1-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma, with total overall survival of 73 months from diagnosis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

ALK-rearranged Stage IVA lung adenocarcinoma: partial response to pembrolizumab as eighth-line treatment

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

Biomarkers: ALK strongly positive by IHC 3+; ALK rearrangement confirmed by FISH; PD-L1 expression 95% by 22C3 immunostaining; CEA 2.3 ng/mL at diagnosis

Metastatic Site: brain

Nine months after pembrolizumab was started as eighth-line therapy, he maintained a partial response after prior progression on multiple ALK inhibitors and chemotherapies.

PubMed CentralRead more →

ALK-Positive Metastatic Lung Cancer Responding to Lorlatinib During Hemodialysis

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

Biomarkers: ALK rearrangement 80%; EGFR and BRAF negative; ROS1 negative; PD-L1 negative

Metastatic Site: brain

After about 1 year of lorlatinib, imaging was almost compatible with a complete response, brain MRI showed no active lesions, and she continued treatment with manageable high cholesterol as the main reported side effect.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer: remission on lorlatinib

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

Biomarkers: ALK-positive rearrangement; TTF-1-positive

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes, bone, liver,…

Metastatic ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma remained in radiologic and clinical remission on lorlatinib after CNS progression on earlier ALK-directed therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery.

PubMed CentralRead more →

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

Patient Info: Lindsay Wagner, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK-positive mutation / ALK rearrangement

Metastatic Site: brain; liver; bone; kidneys; lungs;…

As of September 2024, Lindsay was still on lorlatinib/Lorbrena with her lungs, liver, and kidneys described as stable, while isolated brain/bone areas were treated with radiation and monitored.

The Patient StoryRead more →

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 CentralRead more →

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 ClinicRead more →

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 FoundationRead more →

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 CentralRead more →