Table 1. ALK inhibitors.

ROS1, ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; TKIs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors; CNS, central nervous system; ALK, anaplastic lymphoma kinase 

 

ALK Inhibitors	Special characteristics
Crizotinib (1st generation) TKI	The resistance of crizotinib develops inevitably after ten months of therapy initiation
Alectinib (2nd  generation) TKI	Higher CNS activities and systemic efficacy provides better intracranial disease control and remains effective in those failing response crizotinib due to resistance
Brigatinib (2nd generation) TKI	Targets broader ranges of ALK mutations and ROS1 rearrangements.  The only ALK inhibitor which also targets EGFR
Ceritinib (2nd generation) TKI	Higher potency than crizotinib
Loratinib (3rd generation) TKI	Also targets ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase ROS1