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Gregory J. Riely, MD, PhD
Gregory J. Riely, MD, PhD
Posted: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Makoto Nishio, MD, PhD, of the Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, and colleagues evaluated the impact of treatment with the next-generation ALK inhibitor alectinib vs chemotherapy on health-related quality of life in patients with resected ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results of this exploratory analysis of the phase III ALINA trial, which were presented during the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (Abstract 8006), further support the recent approval of this agent as an adjuvant treatment option.
Patients with stage IB to IIIA disease were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive alectinib or platinum-based chemotherapy. Functional health and well-being were assessed across eight domains and two aggregated summary scores via a short-form questionnaire at baseline, every 3 weeks until week 12, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Higher scores indicated better health, and within-group minimal important differences served as benchmarks.
The completion rates exceeded 90% throughout the study. At baseline, most mean scores were below 50 and appeared to be similar between the arms. Patients treated with alectinib reported mean scores of at least 50 for bodily pain, mental health, and vitality by week 96. The mean change from baseline was found to meet or exceed minimal important differences for five domains, as well as for the mental summary score, by week 12. By week 96, it reportedly exceeded minimal important differences for six domains, as well as for the mental and physical summary scores.
Mean scores of below 50 were documented during chemotherapy. The mean change from baseline for general health and vitality was found to exceed negative minimal important differences. After chemotherapy, in the final assessment, mean scores of at least 50 were documented for bodily pain, mental health, and vitality. Minimal important differences were reportedly met or exceeded for five domains, as well as for the mental and physical summary scores.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit coi.asco.org.
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