Xalkori Picked by ASCO as one of the 'Top Advances in Cancer Treatment' of 2011

What's exciting about Xalkori?

Xalkori, developed by Pfizer (also known as crizotinib), was FDA-approved last August for the treatment of a special subset of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients that have a mutation in the gene 'ALK'. Xalkori is part of a class of drugs called 'tyrosine kinase inhibitors' and it works by blocking the activity of a kinase called ALK that is over active in some NSCLC patients. Almost 60% of ALK-mutated NSCLC patients given Xalkori in clinical trials showed tumor shrinkage and almost 90% of these patients showed either disease stabilization or tumor shrinkage.

What are its side effects?

Side effects associated with Xalkori have been reported as mild, and often improve over time. The most common side effects are mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mild visual disturbances. Some patients had elevated liver function tests.

How can I get access to Xalkori?

With Xalkori's FDA approval, your doctor can now prescribe this drug for you if your tumor has the ALK mutation. To test the tumor for the presence of this mutation, your doctor would order a laboratory test. You can also find out whether your lung cancer should be tested for the ALK mutation by using our Therapy Finder for Lung Cancer.

Xalkori is also available in clinical trials that are testing whether a combination of Xalkori with other drugs might work better than Xalkori alone. The table below lists several of these clinical trials, and by clicking on the name of a trial, you can learn more about whether or not you might qualify to participate in the trial.