A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Lorlatinib in Adults with Mild, Moderate, and Severe Renal Impairment

Lorlatinib experience in a patient with ALK + non-small cell lung cancer on hemodialysis: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Lorlatinib is a potent third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase/c-ros oncogene 1 (ALK)/ROS1 oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has broad coverage of acquired resistance mutations and is currently indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are ALK-positive.

CASE REPORT

In this case, we aimed to present the safety and effectiveness of lorlatinib use in a patient diagnosed with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC who underwent hemodialysis 3 days a week.

MANAGEMENT & OUTCOME

A 76-year-old female patient has been undergoing regular hemodialysis for about 2 years. A brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was taken due to headache and a mass was detected. She was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma as a result of excisional biopsy. Positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) showed a mass in the hilar region of the left lung and multiple lymphadenopathy in the mediastinum. In February 2023, 100 mg lorlatinib was started daily. There was no significant regression in PET-CT and no brain MRI residue during follow-up. The patient has been continuing lorlatinib for approximately 1 year with almost complete response, with no side effects other than hypercholesterolemia.

DISCUSSION

We presented our experience using lorlatinib in a patient with metastatic ALK + NSCLC undergoing hemodialysis. Although the dosage of lorlatinib in hemodialysis patients is still controversial, our case report indicates that 100 mg lorlatinib was safe in this patient.

Pharmacokinetics, mass balance, and metabolism of [14C]envonalkib (TQ-B3139), a novel ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in healthy Chinese subjects

PURPOSE

Envonalkib (TQ-B3139) is a novel, potent anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. This phase I mass balance study investigated the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and excretion of 14C-radiolabeled envonalkib in healthy Chinese male subjects.

METHODS

A single oral dose of 600 mg (150 µCi) [14C]envonalkib was administered to healthy male subjects under fasted state. Samples of blood, urine and feces were collected for quantitative determination of total radioactivity and unchanged envonalkib, and the metabolites identification.

RESULTS

After dosing, the median Tmax of radioactivity was 4 h and the mean t1/2 was 65.2 h in plasma. The exposure of total radioactivity was much higher than that of unchanged envonalkib in plasma. The mean total recovery of the radiolabeled dose was 93.93% over 504 h post-dose, with 15.23% in urine and 78.71% in feces. Envonalkib underwent extensive metabolism and a total of 15 metabolites were identified in plasma, urine, and feces. Unchanged envonalkib and its major metabolite M315 were the main components in plasma, accounting for 20.37% and 33.33% of total plasma radioactivity. In urine, O-dealkylation metabolite M315 was the major component accounted for 7.98% of dose. In feces, 16.01% of dose was excreted as cysteine conjugate M434-1. Envonalkib was well tolerated and there were no serious adverse events observed in the study.

CONCLUSION

Envonalkib was extensively metabolized prior to excretion and eliminated primarily as metabolites via feces.

Sex Differences on the Pharmacokinetics of Drugs for Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Narrative Review

Effective optimal pharmacotherapy requires a comprehensive understanding of the drug's pharmacokinetic properties. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) influences medication pharmacokinetics. However, whether sex differences exist in the pharmacokinetics of drugs for children with CKD is unknown. The primary aim of this article was to evaluate the effect of sex on pharmacokinetics of drugs commonly used for CKD treatment in children. Secondary outcome was to address the impact of sex in CKD disease progression. Electronic databases, PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched from inception, using Mesh terms in English for sex differences in the pharmacokinetics of drugs in children with CKD. No studies have documented sex-related differences in the pharmacokinetics of drugs for the treatment of CKD in children. As a consequence, it is difficult to predict the effect of sex on pharmacokinetics by extrapolating data from adult studies to children. Evidence to date suggests that girls generally have a higher prevalence and disease progression of CKD when compared to boys regardless of age. Understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs provides practical consideration for dosing optimal medication regimens. Future kinetic studies are needed evaluating the effect of sex on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs in children with CKD.

Expert Consensus on the Management of Adverse Events of Lorlatinib in the Treatment of ALK+ Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

The use of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as lorlatinib, for the treatment of patients with ALK gene rearrangement (or ALK-positive) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been shown to improve the overall survival and quality of life of these patients. However, lorlatinib is not exempt from potential adverse events. Adequate monitoring and management of these adverse events are critical for increasing patient adherence to lorlatinib, thereby maximizing the benefits of treatment and minimizing the risks associated with treatment discontinuation. Considering that the adverse events of lorlatinib can affect different organs and systems, the participation of a multidisciplinary team, including cardiologists, neurologists, internal medicine specialists, and oncology pharmacists, is needed. This article presents specific and pragmatic strategies for identifying and treating the most relevant adverse events associated with lorlatinib in patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC based on the clinical experience of a multidisciplinary panel of experts.

Doses Evaluated in Clinical Pharmacology Studies Investigating the Effect of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors on PK and Safety: Case Examples from Approved Drug Development Programs

Dose selection for investigations of intrinsic and extrinsic factors of pharmacokinetic variability as well as safety is a challenging question in the early clinical stage of drug development. The dose of an investigational product is chosen considering the compound information available to date, feasibility of the assessments, regulatory requirements, and the intent to maximize information for later regulatory submission. This review selected 37 programs as case examples of recently approved drugs to explore the doses selected with focus on studies of drug interaction, renal and hepatic impairment, food effect and concentration-QTc assessment.The review found that regulatory agencies may consider alternative approaches if justified and safe as illustrated in these examples. It is thus recommendable to use the first in human trial as an opportunity to assess QT-prolongation and drug interactions using probes or endogenous markers while maximizing the DDI potential, increasing sensitivity and ensuring safety. Early understanding of dose proportionality assists dose finding and simple and fast to conduct DDI study designs are advantageous. Single dose impairment studies despite non-proportional/time-dependent PK are often acceptability.Overall, the early understanding of the drug's safety profile is essential to ensure the safety of doses selected while preventing clinical trials with unnecessary exposure when using high doses or multiple doses. The information collected in this retrospective survey is a good reminder to tailor the early clinical program to the profile and needs of the molecule and consider regulatory opportunities to streamline the development path.

From Development to Place in Therapy of Lorlatinib for the Treatment of ALK and ROS1 Rearranged Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Following the results of the CROWN phase III trial, the third-generation macrocyclic ALK inhibitor lorlatinib has been introduced as a salvage option after the failure of a first-line TKI in ALK-rearranged NSCLC, while its precise role in the therapeutic algorithm of ROS1 positive disease is still to be completely defined. The ability to overcome acquired resistance to prior generation TKIs (alectinib, brigatinib, ceritinib, and crizotinib) and the high intracranial activity in brain metastatic disease thanks to increased blood-brain barrier penetration are the reasons for the growing popularity and interest in this molecule. Nevertheless, the major vulnerability of this drug resides in a peculiar profile of related collateral events, with neurological impairment being the most conflicting and debated clinical issue. The cognitive safety concern, the susceptibility to heterogeneous resistance pathways, and the absence of a valid alternative in the second line are strongly jeopardizing a potential paradigm shift in this oncogene-addicted disease. So, when prescribing lorlatinib, clinicians must face two diametrically opposed characteristics: a great therapeutic potential without the intrinsic limitations of its precursor TKIs, a cytotoxic activity threatened by suboptimal tolerability, and the unavoidable onset of resistance mechanisms we cannot properly manage yet. In this paper, we give a critical point of view on the stepwise introduction of this promising drug into clinical practice, starting from its innovative molecular and biochemical properties to intriguing future developments, without forgetting its weaknesses.

Safety of lorlatinib in ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer and management of central nervous system adverse events

The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has made a breakthrough in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, lorlatinib, a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has demonstrated significant systemic and intracranial activity in both first-line and subsequent-line therapy in ALK-positive NSCLC patients. In this review, general characteristics of lorlatinib, its efficacy in the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC patients and the safety of lorlatinib, particularly addressing central nervous system adverse events, are discussed. Management of central nervous system adverse events, which seem to be specific to lorlatinib therapy, is outlined.

Lorlatinib as a treatment for ALK-positive lung cancer

Lorlatinib, a third-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been approved as a treatment for ALK-positive lung cancer. This review provides information regarding the pharmacology and clinical features of lorlatinib, including its efficacy and associated adverse events. Pivotal clinical trials are discussed along with the current status of lorlatinib as a treatment for ALK-positive lung cancer and future therapeutic challenges.

Targeted Cancer Therapies Causing Elevations in Serum Creatinine Through Tubular Secretion Inhibition: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Rationale

Targeted cancer therapies have revolutionized the field of oncology by selecting for specific molecular pathways, thus improving overall clinical prognosis. However, many of these targeted treatments have been reported to have adverse kidney effects, including acute kidney injury, interstitial nephritis, and glomerular disease. Furthermore, some of these targeted therapies have also been found to cause an asymptomatic rise in serum creatinine levels through inhibition of active tubular secretion.

Presenting concerns

A 79-year-old woman was being followed for stage 4 A2 chronic kidney disease secondary to type 2 diabetes and longstanding hypertension. She was diagnosed with invasive mammary carcinoma and was initiated on letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, and palbociclib, a selective cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, was subsequently added. Prior to the initiation of her treatments, her baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) fluctuated between 25 and 28 mL/min/1.73 m2 over the previous year. After initiating palbociclib, her serum creatinine progressively increased, despite having well-controlled blood pressure and diabetes. In addition, there was no history of pre-renal events nor any sonographic evidence of obstruction. Within 7 months, her eGFR based on serum creatinine had decreased down to 12 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Interventions

Given that there were no clinical or other biochemical changes suggestive of worsening renal function, a serum cystatin C was measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay, which was 1.71 mg/L and correlated with an eGFR of 33 mL/min/1.73 m2 based on the chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) cystatin C equation (2012). This value was consistent with her previous baseline. Based on these findings, the significant decrease in eGFR measured by serum creatinine was attributed to the inhibitory effects of palbociclib on tubular creatinine secretion, rather than representing true kidney damage. Thus, a kidney biopsy was not performed in this context.

Outcomes

Seven months later, a repeat serum cystatin C was repeated to assess for any worsening of the patient's kidney function and revealed an eGFR of 35 mL/min/1.73 m2 based on the CKD-EPI cystatin C equation (2012), thus revealing stable kidney function and reinforcing the inhibitory effects of palbociclib on tubular creatinine secretion through its direct effects on kidney transporters.

Teaching points

This case report and literature review acknowledges the importance of using alternative methods of assessing kidney function when patients are undergoing targeted cancer therapies known to affect tubular creatinine secretion, which include cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition inhibitors. The use of non-creatinine-based markers of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), such as cystatin C and nuclear renal scans, will allow for more accurate estimation of kidney function in the appropriate setting, thus avoiding invasive diagnostic tests and unnecessary adjustments of treatment plans. However, certain targeted cancer therapies have also been proven to cause true kidney injury; therefore, physicians must still maintain a high degree of suspicion and consider invasive investigations and/or cessation or reduction of treatments when alternative measurements of kidney function do not suggest an underestimation of GFR via serum creatinine.