Erlotinib May Be Effective As First-Line Treatment For Asian Patients With EGFR Mutation-Positive NSCLC

By Dr Deepu

Healio (12/31) reports that in a phase 2 study, “erlotinib appeared effective as first-line treatment for Asian patients with EGFR mutation-positive non–small cell lung cancer.” Researchers also found that “treatment beyond progression appeared feasible and may delay salvage therapy in certain patients.” The findings were published in JAMA Oncology.

The objective was study the efficacy of first-line erlotinib therapy in patients with NSCLC with activating EGFR mutations and postprogression erlotinib therapy.

Patients received erlotinib 150 mg/d orally until disease progression, after which erlotinib therapy could be continued at patient and/or investigator discretion.

Overall response rate was 66.2%; disease control rate was 82.6%. Median overall survival was 31.0 months (95% CI, 27.3 months to not reached). In the safety population (n = 207) serious adverse events were reported in 27.1%, with events of at least grade 3 experienced by 50.2%. Sensitivity and specificity of plasma-based EGFR mutation analysis was 77% and 92%, respectively.