A recent study co-led by researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong has revealed promising results for advanced lung cancer treatment . The research indicates that over half of patients receiving the targeted therapy lorlatinib remained free from disease progression for at least seven years,suggesting a potential shift in how this aggressive illness is managed.
The study,which tracked 296 previously untreated patients diagnosed with advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, spanned from 2019 to 2025. Participants hailed from diverse regions, including Hong Kong, mainland China, the United States,and Europe. Among them, 149 patients were administered lorlatinib, while the remaining 147 received crizotinib,a first-generation treatment, as a control group.
Results showed that 55 percent of those on lorlatinib experienced no disease progression at the seven-year mark. In stark contrast,only 3 percent of patients treated with crizotinib achieved the same outcome . Professor Tony Mok Shu-kam, who chairs the university's department of clinical oncology and is a lead researcher, emphasized the significance of these findings . He noted,“More than half of the people started taking medication and seven years later they were still taking it,leading normal lives.”
This breakthrough positions lorlatinib as a potential game-changer in lung cancer treatment,allowing patients to manage their condition similarly to chronic illnesses like diabetes or hypertension. Mok remarked on the profound impact of the therapy,stating, “The shadow of death was practically non-existent at this point.” As research continues, these findings may pave the way for transforming advanced lung cancer into a manageable chronic condition .
