Dr. Girard on Maximizing Outcomes of Lung Cancer Treatments

Nicolas Girard, MD, professor of Respiratory Medicine and Thoracic Oncology at the Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France, and senior attending physician in the Thoracic Oncology Service of the Hospices Civils de Lyon, discusses the optimal methods to maximize the outcomes of crizitonib (Xalkori) when used as a treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Girard begins by stating that using crizitonib in the first-line setting is an effective way to produce positive results when treated for ALK-positive NSCLC. Crizotinib is also accessible as a second-line treatment, but the progression-free survival (PFS) is lower at an estimated 8 months.

Girard discusses that it is important to understand and identify progressive disease that can develop with patients using crizotinib. This can occur in 1 or 2 tumors but can be managed with a low-calibrated treatment and a continuation of crizotinib. By doing this, the duration of treatment, as well as the benefits, are increased.