Rational Application of First-Line EGFR-TKIs Combined with Antiangiogenic Inhibitors in Advanced EGFR-Mutant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effectiveness and safety of the bevacizumab and erlotinib combination versus erlotinib alone in EGFR mutant metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The EGFR gene encodes a protein that stimulates molecular pathways that allow the growth and development of the tumor microenvironment. The current preferred tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for the first-line treatment of EGFRm metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is osimertinib. However, the combination of angiogenesis inhibitors and TKI has produced discordant results. We aimed to assess the effects of the bevacizumab and erlotinib combination in EGFRm metastatic NSCLC.

Methods

Using eligibility criteria focused on patients with EGFRm metastatic NSCLC treated with bevacizumab and erlotinib, we searched databases including clinical trial randomized studies and reviews published until April 15, 2023 in Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Embase. Eight clinical trials (1,052 patients) were selected from 1,343 articles for quantitative and qualitative assessment. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data were synthesized through random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

The bevacizumab and erlotinib combination significantly improved the progression-free survival (PFS) (log(HR) = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.54-0.73, p < 0.001) and overall response ratio (ORR) (RR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97, p = 0.03). However, it did not improve the overall survival (log(HR) = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.78-1.10, p = 0.38) and was associated with higher serious adverse events (SAEs) (OR = 3.48; 95% CI, 1.76-6.88, p = 0.005). A subgroup analysis suggested similar benefits in different mutation subtypes and brain metastasis condition. The evidence is limited by a moderate risk of bias across studies and heterogeneity in the reporting of SAEs.

Conclusions

The bevacizumab and erlotinib combination significantly improved PFS and ORR in EGFRm metastatic NSCLC but were also associated with higher-grade (≥3) adverse events. These results suggest that while the combination therapy may enhance progression-free survival and overall response, it does not improve the overall survival and is associated with higher toxicity. Thus, the treatment should be personalized based on individual patient comorbidities. Further prospective trials are needed to validate these results.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#searchadvanced, identifier CDR 42022364692.

Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab biosimilar compared with reference bevacizumab in locally advanced and advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients: A retrospective study

Background

Bevacizumab has played an important role in the systemic treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without gene mutation. In recent years, bevacizumab biosimilar has received marketing approval based on the results of phase III clinical studies. However, more clinical data are needed to verify the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab biosimilar in clinical application.

Materials and methods

We identified 946 patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who were treated with bevacizumab biosimilar or bevacizumab from January 1, 2019 to November 30, 2021. Comparisons and statistical analyses of bevacizumab biosimilar and bevacizumab were made in terms of efficacy and safety. Efficacy evaluation was performed directly in accordance with RECIST v1.1. Adverse events were graded following the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0.

Results

The objective response rates (ORRs) were 28.9% in the biosimilar group (n=551) and 30.9% in the reference group (n=395; unstratified ORR risk ratio: 0.934, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.677-1.138; unstratified ORR risk difference: -0.020, 95% CI: -0.118-0.035). The estimated median progression-free survival (mPFS) were 6.27 (95% CI: 5.53-7.01) and 4.93 (95% CI: 4.24-5.62) months in the biosimilar and reference groups, respectively (P=0.296). The number of treatment lines, combined treatment regimens and with or without radiotherapy were significant factors affecting the PFS of both groups (P<0.001, P=0.001, P=0.039). Different genetic mutations and dose intensity were not the main factors affecting PFS (P=0.627, P=0.946). The incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were 76.41% in the biosimilar group and 71.65% in the reference group (P=0.098). The incidences of grade 3 or higher TEAEs were 22.14% and 19.49% in the biosimilar and reference groups, respectively (P=0.324).

Conclusions

Bevacizumab biosimilar is equivalent in efficacy to bevacizumab in patients with locally advanced and advanced NSCLC. It showed acceptable toxicity profile and no new adverse events. Patients who were excluded by clinical trials can also benefit from bevacizumab biosimilar.

Comparison of the Efficacy of EGFR-TKIs Combined with Antiangiogenic Agents between Patients with Exon 19 Deletion and Patients with Exon 21 Leu858 Arg Mutation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose

To compare the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs combined with antiangiogenic agents between non-small cell lung cancer patients with exon 19 deletion and patients with exon 21 Leu858 Arg mutation.

Methods

Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were systematically searched for studies published until March 2022. Randomized control trials comparing the survival of EGFR-TKIs plus antiangiogenic agents with EGFR-TKI were extracted. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

Five randomized control trials involving 1533 patients were as follows: 818 patients had exon 19 deletion, and 715 patients with exon 21 Leu858 Arg mutation. The methodological quality of the 5 randomized control trials was high. EGFR-TKIs plus antiangiogenic agents improved PFS in patients with exon 19 deletion (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51–0.75) and exon 21 Leu858 Arg mutation (HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.50–0.75). PFS did not differ between the exon 19 deletion and exon 21 Leu858 Arg mutation groups (Z = 0.07, P=0.94).

Conclusions

PFS was comparable between patients receiving EGFR-TKIs combined with antiangiogenic agents with exon 19 deletion and those with exon 21 Leu858 Arg mutation.

[Research Progress of Angiogenesis Inhibitors Plus EGFR-TKI in EGFR-mutated Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) have become the standard treatment for EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, drug resistance is inevitable in most cases. EGFR-TKI combined with angiogenesis inhibitors is a treatment scheme being explored to delay the therapeutic resistance, which is called "A+T treatment". Several clinical trials have demonstrated that the A+T treatment can improve the progression free survival (PFS) of the NSCLC patients. However, compared to EGFR-TKI monotherapy, the benefits of the A+T treatment based on different EGFR-TKIs, as well as its safety and exploration prospects are still unclear. Therefore, we reviewed the literature related to all three generations EGFR-TKIs combined with angiogenesis inhibitors, and summarized the mechanism, benefit, safety, optimal target population of A+T treatment.
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