Crizotinib is used for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is anaplastic-lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive as detected by a FDA-approved test.
Crizotinib is a tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor. More specifically, it inhibits anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR, c-MET), and Recepteur d'Origine Nantais (RON). Abnormalities in the ALK gene caused by mutations or translocations may lead to expression of oncogenic fusion proteins. In patients with NSCLC, they have the EML4-ALK gene. Crizotinib inhibits ALK tyrosine kinase which ultimately results in decreased proliferation of cells that carry the genetic mutation and tumour survivability.
Resistance Mutations
— 158 resistance samples observed in COSMIC