New combo therapy aims to shrink lung tumors before local treatment

This study tests whether giving a targeted drug (alectinib) plus chemotherapy before surgery or radiation helps people with a specific type of advanced lung cancer (ALK-positive stage III NSCLC) that cannot be removed right away. About 50 adults who have not had prior cancer treatment will receive the drug combo for three cycles, then a team of doctors will decide if surgery or radiation is best. After local treatment, some may continue alectinib for up to two years to prevent the cancer from coming back.