Lung cancer : journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
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Anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement (ALK+) occurs in approximately 2-7% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), contributing to a considerable number of patients with ALK+ NSCLC worldwide. Ceritinib is a next generation ALK inhibitor (ALKi), approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2015. In the first-in-human, phase I study, ceritinib demonstrated rapid and durable responses in ALK patients previously treated with a different ALKi and in those who were ALKi-naive. ⋯ Unfortunately, at some point, all patients experience progressive disease, with the central nervous system being a common site of metastases. Recommendations are made for continuing treatment beyond disease progression as long as a clinical benefit to patients is observed. Here, we review management of ceritinib treatment and adverse events and make recommendations on optimal management of patients.