Not mentioned in the article is the fact that lorlatinib, original studied in the phase 3 CROWN trial, was used in frontline management of advanced ALK-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [0]. Five-year data indicate a significant progression-free survival benefit, with 60% of patients free of progression. Even after 60.2 months of follow-up, the median progression-free survival has not yet been reached [1]. It is the durability of progression-free survival that are most impressive and surprising here. That said, only 4% to 8% of patients with NSCLC will have ALK mutations/rearrangements, so while amazing, this finding is not applicable to all patients [2].
[0] https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2027187