College student overcomes Stage IV ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma with experimental lung cancer treatment

Emma Operacz reached remission from Stage IV ALK+ lymphoma after doctors used alectinib, a lung cancer drug, to target tumors in her brain.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 2, 2026, 6:33 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Yahoo News

From mystery symptoms to a critical diagnosis

In June 2024, Emma Operacz began experiencing symptoms she initially mistook for a routine urinary tract infection. Despite several rounds of antibiotics and medical consultations, her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to severe side pain, high fevers, and extreme fatigue. After being bedridden for two weeks, Operacz was admitted to an emergency room where doctors discovered swollen lymph nodes in her groin. Following a pelvic exam and ultrasound, a biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of Stage IV ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that predominantly affects younger patients.

Neurological spread and treatment challenges

Despite initial efforts to stabilize her condition with standard chemotherapy, the cancer proved resistant. New medical scans revealed that the disease had metastasized to Operacz’s central nervous system and brain. At this stage, her local medical facilities were no longer equipped to manage the complexity of her case, and she was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic on July 12, 2024. During this period, her physical health declined sharply; her weight dropped to 80 pounds, and her family began making end-of-life arrangements, including the preparation of a will.

Experimental application of alectinib

Operacz’s oncologist, Dr. Deepa Jagadeesh, proposed an experimental treatment strategy involving alectinib. Although typically prescribed for lung cancer, small-scale studies indicated that the medication could be effective for pediatric ALK+ lymphoma patients. A crucial advantage of alectinib is its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing it to target malignant cells within the central nervous system and brain. After receiving insurance approval, the clinical team began administering the drug on August 20, 2024. Operacz showed immediate improvement and reached full remission by September.