Patients with ALK-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) “frequently die of cancer-related causes, during hospitalization, and under active treatment,” underscoring the need for tailored palliative and end-of-life care approaches for patients in this population, according to results from a recent study.
Gaspard Naulleau, MD, of the Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP. Center, Université Paris Cité, and colleagues conducted the study and presented their findings at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2025 Annual Congress in Berlin, Germany.
It was important to conduct the study because although many patients with ALK+ NSCLC receive targeted therapies that can lead to extended survival, most patients with advanced NSCLC die from cancer-related causes before the integration of palliative care. However, the “unique disease course” of ALK+ NSCLC “may influence end-of-life management.”