Happy New Year! And welcome to your first 2026 newsletter from the ALK Patient Gateway—your place for the latest information about ALK-positive lung cancer.
We continue to make progress in treating lung cancer. Over the last decade, we have had particularly good traction in developing new approaches to treat advanced ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) – drugs that specifically target ALK proteins. This work is ongoing as researchers consider combination approaches for improved effectiveness.
Researchers are also working to bring treatment options to patients with earlier stages of disease to reduce their risk of cancer recurrence after surgery.
Results from a recent phase 3 clinical trial, demonstrated that treating patients after surgery with chemotherapy followed by ensartinib, a next-generation ALK TKI, resulted in an 80% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence compared to patients who didn’t receive ensartinib. The treatment also reduced cancer recurrence in the central nervous system.
Similarly, data from another phase 3 clinical trial showed that 94% of patients treated with adjuvant alectinib, another ALK TKI, had a minimum of two years without disease progression, compared to 63% of patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.
In addition, researchers are making promising in-roads to understand the biology of drug resistance in ALK-positive lung cancer.
These studies, along with other exciting research being conducted every day, bring hope for new treatment options on the horizon for people diagnosed with ALK-positive NSCLC.
Research News
Global Data Healthcare
ESMO 2025: potential new adjuvant option ensartinib for ALK+ NSCLC
October 23, 2025
News Break
Cancer-associated fibroblasts confer ALK inhibitor resistance in EML4-ALK–driven lung cancer by concurrent integrin and MET signaling
December 23, 2025
ESMO Daily Reporter
Adjuvant ALK TKIs show robust and durable disease-free survival benefit in non-small cell lung cancer
October 19, 2025
Get Connected
Join Us for the ALK Virtual Meetup
This is an easy way to build your community. On the fourth Wednesday of each month, you can connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with ALK-positive lung cancer. The next ALK Meetup is happening on January 28, 2026, at 12 pm ET. Register for free to get a confirmation email with details about how to join the virtual meeting. New attendees are always welcome and encouraged to join!
Can’t make it? Don’t worry, there’s a full list of virtual meetups to fit your schedule.
Mark Your Calendar
May 1-3, 2026
HOPE Summit in Dallas, TX
Save the date for HOPE Summit, a warm and uplifting in-person gathering where lung cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers come together to learn, connect, and feel inspired. Attendees will hear from powerful speakers and experts on everyday issues that matter most, including mental and sexual health, financial guidance, and navigating care. You will also meet peers who understand the journey and can offer meaningful support. With free registration, travel grants, and helpful resources, this is the perfect time to plan your attendance. You can learn more about the event and complete the interest form for alerts when registration opens.
Have You Seen?
Tips to Manage Scanxiety
Many people struggle with feelings of anxiety or worry before medical exams, such as an MRI or a CT scan. LUNGevity has compiled six tips to help patients and caregivers manage this “scanxiety.” Learn more.
Losing Significant Weight Loss During Treatment
Losing weight and muscle mass during lung cancer treatment is common. However, often these symptoms are not a side effect of treatment. They can be due to a condition called cachexia. Learn more about this condition—including who is at risk for it, how to recognize it, and what can be done to address the symptoms.
Veteran Voices: Surgery to Survivorship at the VA
Meet Michael O’Donnell, a Vietnam veteran whose remarkable five-year journey with stage IV lung cancer is reshaping how veterans think about care and screening. Michael is using his experience as a lung cancer survivor who is treated through the VA health system to help others ask the right questions and get the support they need. Learn more.
…and there is always so much more to explore on the ALK Patient Gateway.
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If you need further assistance along your lung cancer journey, please email us at support@lungevity.org. Our team is always here to assist you.
