"With this evidence of durable control of intracranial and extracranial disease, Dr Mok said lorlatinib has the potential to transform advanced ALK-positive NSCLC into a chronic disease for some patients.\n\n“Now we ask the question, how do we define conversion of advanced lung cancer into chronic disease,” he concluded. “What are the criteria in the future when we can use the term chronic illness for advanced non-small cell lung cancer?”\n\nDr Schoenfeld said the findings “further cement lorlatinib as a leading first-line therapy for advanced ALK-positive NSCLC.”\n\nDr Herbst agreed, saying the findings were impressive. “Patients on that drug do incredibly well,” he said. “It’s got some unusual side effects, including some cognitive issues in rare patients, but I’d say there’s no doubt that it’s the drug of first choice.”"