Case of Crizotinib-New Targeted Drug Therapy for NSCLC

   The patient is a male, 50 years old, “right lung adenocarcinoma with multiple mediastinal lymph node metastases”, diagnosed definitively in 2013, with biopsy specimen genetic test results: negative for EGFR gene mutation and positive for ALK gene test (PCR method). Chemotherapy was administered for 4 segments (pemetrexed combined with carboplatin) with SD efficacy and significant relief of chest tightness. After 2 months of recovery after stopping chemotherapy, the patient’s symptoms of chest tightness reappeared, and a repeat chest CT showed that the mediastinal lymph nodes were larger than before, and lung FDG showed increased activity of the right lung lesion and mediastinal lymph nodes. The patient’s chest tightness improved significantly, with no special discomfort, no gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting, and no blurred vision at night. In the first month of treatment, a repeat chest CT showed that the right lung lesion and mediastinal lymph nodes were significantly reduced. (The use of crizotinib in this patient confirmed the effectiveness of the new targeted drug for ALK-positive patients and demonstrated the importance of individualized treatment (reminding us that we should try to perform multigene testing at the early stage of diagnosis to guide further individualized treatment). The toxic side effects of crizotinib are mild and well tolerated by patients. Of course, more cases and clinical application experience need to be accumulated.  The patient was a male, 50 years old, “right lung adenocarcinoma with multiple mediastinal lymph node metastases”, diagnosed clearly in 2013, and the biopsy specimen genetic test results were negative for EGFR gene mutation and positive for ALK gene test (PCR method). Chemotherapy was administered for 4 segments (pemetrexed combined with carboplatin) with SD efficacy and significant relief of chest tightness. After 2 months of recovery after stopping chemotherapy, the patient’s symptoms of chest tightness reappeared, and a repeat chest CT showed that the mediastinal lymph nodes were larger than before, and lung FDG showed increased activity of the right lung lesion and mediastinal lymph nodes. The patient’s chest tightness improved significantly, with no special discomfort, no gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting, and no blurred vision at night. In the first month of treatment, a repeat chest CT showed that the right lung lesion and mediastinal lymph nodes were significantly reduced. (The use of crizotinib in this patient confirmed the effectiveness of the new targeted drug for ALK-positive patients and demonstrated the importance of individualized treatment (reminding us that we should try to perform multigene testing at the early stage of diagnosis to guide further individualized treatment). The toxic side effects of crizotinib are mild and well tolerated by patients. Of course, more cases and clinical application experience need to be accumulated.