Evaluation of the efficacy of entrectinib in the treatment of solid tumors and non-small cell lung cancer

Entrectinib is a multi-target inhibitor that can effectively inhibit TRKA, TRKB, and TRKC of tropomyosin receptor tyrosine kinase (TRK), as well as proto-oncogene tyrosine protein kinase ROS1 and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). After a strict marketing approval process, entrectinib has been approved for the treatment of solid tumors with NTRK gene fusion and non-small cell lung cancer with ROS1 gene fusion. Its therapeutic effect has been confirmed by multiple clinical studies.

In a study involving 74 adult patients with NTRK gene fusions in advanced solid tumors whose previous treatments had failed or who were not candidates for other treatments. They were treated with entrectinib until the drug failed or they developed intolerable side effects. The study results showed that 64% of the patients' tumors shrank significantly, and the average response time (that is, the time when the cancer was effectively controlled) reached 12.9 months. While the study did not directly compare entrectinib to other solid tumor treatments, supporting research points to the drug's expected efficacy in patients older than 12 years being similar.

Another study included 94 patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with ROS1 gene fusions. Over 12 months of follow-up, these patients were treated with entrectinib until drug failure or unacceptable side effects. Encouragingly, 73% of patients experienced tumor shrinkage, and the average response time was 16.5 months. Likewise, the study did not compare entrectinib with other treatments for NSCLC.

Although entrectinib is generally well tolerated, some side effects are possible. Common side effects include fatigue, constipation, dysgeusia, edema, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, abnormal touch, dyspnea, weight gain, pain, and cognitive impairment. Therefore, patients should use this drug under the guidance of a doctor to ensure safe and effective treatment.