S8 Ep. 11: Lorlatinib in Practice: 5 Years of Data, Real-World Counseling, and AE Management
Last Updated: May 1, 2025
Lorlatinib is reshaping first-line treatment for ALK-positive NSCLC—but its distinct side effect profile demands proactive, personalized management. In this episode, Stefanie Houseknecht, PharmD, BCOP (Johns Hopkins Medicine) and Monica Chintapenta, PharmD, BCOP (Parkland Health)share how they’re navigating real-world use of lorlatinib, from interpreting long-term data to counseling patients through CNS effects, weight gain, and metabolic challenges.
Highlights:
- Why lorlatinib is gaining traction in first-line ALK+ NSCLC
- What the long-term CROWN data really means for patient outcomes
- How to handle tricky side effects like cognitive changes, weight gain, and hyperlipidemia
- Real-world tips for patient counseling and supporting adherence
- The importance of catching drug interactions and staying ahead on labs
- How pharmacists are shaping care across the oncology team
Bonus: Hear how our guests find balance beyond the clinic, whether in the garden or on the Boston marathon course.
About Our Guests
Monica completed her Doctor of Pharmacy at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and went on to complete PGY-1 and PGY-2 residencies at Tufts Medical Center and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, respectively. At Parkland, she supports outpatient hematology/oncology care and leads quality initiatives.
Stefanie earned her PharmD from the University of the Pacific, followed by PGY-1 and PGY-2 residencies at Palomar Medical Center and the University of California-San Diego. Her work focuses on thoracic malignancies, access to oral targeted therapies, and patient outcomes. She is active in the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and serves as a preceptor to pharmacy trainees across the Mid-Atlantic.