Anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors: risk of cardiovascular toxicities.

The risk of some cardiovascular toxicities, in particular pericarditis, may be increased in patients receiving anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors, according to a study conducted by researchers from Japan. "Careful monitoring of pericarditis is suggested when ALK inhibitors are administered, in addition to baseline examination considering the cardiovascular toxicity profile of each drug", conclude the researchers. The disproportionality analysis of adverse-event reports from 19 911 ALK inhibitors users showed that pericarditis signals were detected with all five ALK inhibitors, with reporting odds ratios (RORs) ranging from 3.5 (95% CI 1.33-9.46) for brigatinib to 12.9 (95% CI 9.37-17.79) for ceritinib. [Extracted from the article]