Alecensa (Alectinib) for Lung Cancer

Overview
Alecensa is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as detected by an FDA-approved test. It specifically targets ALK-EML4, a tyrosine kinase protein involved in the proliferation of cancer cells. Alecensa is also referred to by its drug name, alectinib.

Alecensa is a member of the class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Alecensa is believed to work by preventing cancer cells from replicating (multiplying) and triggering cell death.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Alecensa is taken orally as a capsule twice daily with food.

Alecensa should be taken exactly as prescribed by a physician.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Alecensa lists common side effects including fatigue, constipation, edema (tissue swelling), muscle pain, and anemia (low red blood cell counts).

Rare but serious side effects listed for Alecensa include liver damage, fetal harm, kidney impairment, slow heart rate, and interstitial lung disease (scarring of the lungs).

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Highlights of Prescribing Information — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/...

Alectinib (Oral Route) — Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/al...