EGFR mutation status and first-line treatment in patients with stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer in Germany: an observational study

Association between epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation status and short‑term efficacy of first‑line platinum‑containing chemotherapy in advanced non‑small cell lung cancer

It remains undetermined whether there is an explicit association between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation status and chemotherapy efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with advanced stages. Thus, the aim of the present retrospective study was to investigate the possible association between EGFR gene mutation status and the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC. In total, 52 patients who were diagnosed with NSCLC at Changzhou Tumor Hospital (Changzhou, China) from January 2015 to December 2018 were enrolled. All 52 patients received pemetrexed combined with platinum chemotherapy, for 21 days per cycle. After two cycles of treatment, the short-term clinical efficacy was assessed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours 1.1 guidelines. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS) rate were calculated at the end of the study (December 31, 2019). These patients also underwent second-generation gene sequencing before the potential association between mutations in the EGFR gene and chemotherapy efficacy was analyzed. In this group of patients, 25 cases (48.1%) were found to be harboring EGFR gene mutation, whilst 27 cases (51.9%) expressed wild-type EGFR. After receiving the first-line chemotherapy regimen, the ORR was determined to be 36.5%, the DCR was 71.2%, whereas the PFS period was 207 days. Following first-line chemotherapy, the DCR of patients with EGFR mutations (52%) was higher compared with those in patients harboring the wild-type EGFR (22%). By contrast, the PFS (260 days) of patients with EGFR mutations was longer compared with those in patients harboring wild-type EGFR (100 days). These differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that EGFR gene mutation was an independent predictor of PFS in patients with advanced NSCLC (P<0.05). To conclude, data from the present study suggest that EGFR gene mutation has independent predictive value for the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC.

RELAY+: Exploratory Study of Ramucirumab Plus Gefitinib in Untreated Patients With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Introduction

Ramucirumab (RAM) plus erlotinib was found to have superior progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo plus erlotinib in untreated EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC in the global phase 3 RELAY study. RELAY+ was an open-label, two-period, single-arm, exploratory study of RAM plus gefitinib (GEF; period 1) and RAM plus osimertinib (period 2) in East Asia (NCT02411448).

Methods

Period 1 evaluated RAM (10 mg/kg) plus GEF (250 mg/d) in patients with untreated EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC. Period 2 evaluated RAM plus osimertinib (80 mg/d) in patients with disease progression who acquired T790M mutation in period 1. Exploratory end points included 1-year PFS rate (primary), other efficacy parameters, safety, and biomarker analyses of plasma (baseline, on-treatment, follow-up) using next-generation sequencing.

Results

From December 2017 to August 2018, a total of 82 patients were enrolled and started treatment (period 1, RAM + GEF). The 1-year PFS rate was 62.9% (95% confidence interval: 50.3–73.1). Treatment-emergent adverse events of grade three or higher were reported with RAM plus GEF in 60 of 82 patients (73.2%; five patients [6.1%] grade four). There were two deaths owing to adverse events that occurred (acute cardiac failure, congestive cardiac failure). T790M rate at disease progression in plasma was 81.0% (13 of 16 patients).

Conclusions

RELAY+ was found to have a favorable benefit–risk profile for RAM plus GEF in first-line treatment of East Asian patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Worldwide Prevalence of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Identification of variable epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is important for the selection of appropriate targeted therapies. This meta-analysis was conducted to provide a worldwide overview of EGFR mutation and submutation (specifically exon 19 deletions, exon 21 L858R substitutions, and others) prevalence, and identify important covariates that influence EGFR mutation status in patients with advanced NSCLC to address this clinical data gap.

Methods

Embase^® and MEDLINE^® in Ovid were searched for studies published between 2004 and 2019 with cohorts of ≥ 50 adults with EGFR mutations, focusing on stage III/IV NSCLC (≤ 20% of patients with stage I/II NSCLC). Linear mixed-effects models were fitted to EGFR mutation endpoints using logistic transformation (logit), assuming a binomial distribution. The model included terms for an intercept reflecting European studies and further additive terms for other continents. EGFR submutations examined were exon 19 deletions, exon 21 L858R substitutions, and others.

Results

Of 3969 abstracts screened, 57 studies were included in the overall EGFR mutation analysis and 74 were included in the submutation analysis relative to the overall EGFR mutation population (Europe, n = 12; Asia, n = 51; North America, n = 5; Central America, n = 1; South America, n = 1; Oceania, n = 1; Global, n = 3). The final overall EGFR mutations model estimated Asian and European prevalence of 49.1% and 12.8%, respectively, and included an additive covariate for the proportion of male patients in a study. There were no significant covariates in the submutation analyses. Most submutations were actionable: exon 19 deletions (49.2% [Asia]; 48.4% [Europe]); exon 21 L858R substitutions (41.1% [Asia]; 29.9% [Europe]).

Conclusions

Although EGFR mutation prevalence was higher in Asian than Western countries, data support worldwide testing for EGFR overall and submutations to inform appropriate targeted treatment decisions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40291-021-00563-1.

A Multicenter Retrospective Study on the Prognosis of Stage III Unresectable Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Therapy

Background

For unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), concurrent chemoradiotherapy is nowadays the standard treatment. Patients with advanced NSCLC harboring driver-gene mutations benefit from Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) Therapy. In a real-world setting, there is room for exploring the benefit of TKIs in stage III unresectable NSCLC patients with mutation.

Methods

A total of 81 patients from the Jinling Hospital and the Jiangsu Cancer Hospital with stage III unresectable mutant NSCLC applied targeted therapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients with first-line application of TKIs were followed up to gain the situation of surgery qualifications, progression-free survival and overall survival, so as to evaluate the survival prognosis, then whether patients benefit and what kind of patients benefit most from TKI monotherapy treatment or its combination are explored.

Results

The median progression-free survival of involved 81 patients was 13.87 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 11.66-16.08), and the median survival was 41.47 months (95%CI: 20.11-62.83). The 5-year survival rates were 91.0, 80.3, 56.1, 45.5, and 32.5%, respectively. After first-line TKI therapy, seven patients (8.6%) were reevaluated as eligible for surgery and proceeded to surgery. Although no characteristics were found to be statistical prognostic, younger female non-smokers still tended to have a better prognosis with longer progression free survival and overall survival.

Conclusions

TKIs are a viable option for mutant stage III unresectable NSCLC patients who have achieved good clinical benefit from TKI. Patients who cannot tolerate chemoradiotherapy, especially those with driver gene mutations, can choose targeted therapy for first-line treatment.

TP53 mutations in circulating tumor DNA in advanced epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with gefitinib

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We evaluated 180 patients' EGFR and TP53 co-mutation types, who received gefitinib targeted therapy, through sequencing their ctDNA in plasma.

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Patients with TP53 mutation is predictive of poor survival.

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Patients with EGFR exon 19 and TP53 co-mutations had better prognosis value than those with EGFR L585R and TP53 co-mutations.

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4.Patients with TP53 mutations, especially in exons 6 and 7, had a lower response rate and shorter PFS and OS when treated with gefitinib.

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TP53 exon 5 mutation divided TP53 mutations in disruptive and non-disruptive types.

Tumor protein p53 (TP53) is a tumor suppressor gene and TP53 mutations are associated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer. However, the in-depth classification of TP53 and its relationship with treatment response and prognosis in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant tumors treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors are unclear. Circulating tumor DNA was prospectively collected at baseline in advanced treatment-naïve EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with gefitinib in an open-label, single-arm, prospective, multicenter, phase 2 clinical trial (BENEFIT trial) and analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Of the 180 enrolled patients, 115 (63.9%) harbored TP53 mutations. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with TP53-wild type tumors were significantly longer than those of patients with TP53-mutant tumors. Mutations in exons 5–8 accounted for 80.9% of TP53 mutations. Mutations in TP53 exons 6 and 7 were significantly associated with inferior PFS and OS compared to wild-type TP53. TP53 mutation also influenced the prognosis of patients with different EGFR mutations. Patients with TP53 and EGFR exon 19 mutations had significantly longer PFS and OS than patients with TP53 and EGFR L858R mutations, and both groups had worse survival than patients with only EGFR mutations. Patients with TP53 mutations, especially in exons 6 and 7, had a lower response rate and shorter PFS and OS when treated with gefitinib. Moreover, TP53 exon 5 mutation divided TP53 mutations in disruptive and non-disruptive types.

Afatinib as first-line treatment in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer in routine clinical practice

Background:

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in Germany and worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises ~80% of lung cancer diagnoses; in White patients, around 10% of NSCLC cases are epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive (EGFRm+). Head-to-head clinical trials have demonstrated superior efficacy with second-/third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) versus first-generation EGFR TKIs in EGFRm+ NSCLC. Data from routine clinical practice are necessary to confirm that clinical trial findings are transferable to real-world populations.

Methods:

In NCT02047903, a prospective non-interventional study in Germany, patients with EGFRm+ NSCLC received first-line afatinib until disease progression or intolerable adverse events. Key objectives were progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 12 months, objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS). Safety/tolerability was also assessed.

Results:

Of 152 patients, 106 (69.7%) were female, 20 (13.1%) patients had an uncommon EGFR mutation and 51 patients (33.6%) had brain metastases. A starting dose of <40 mg was received by 39 (25.7%) patients. Overall, the 12-month PFS rate was 50.2% while the median PFS was 12.2 months. The ORR was 74.6% and the median OS was 30.4 months. In patients with brain metastases and uncommon mutations, the median PFS was 10.5 and 10.7 months, and the ORR was 77.3% and 83.3%, respectively. Treatment effectiveness was similar in patients with a starting dose of <40 mg (median PFS: 16.4 months; ORR, 81.3%) and a starting dose of 40 mg (median PFS: 10.8 months; ORR, 72.1%). Adverse drug reactions were manageable and consistent with the known afatinib safety profile.

Conclusion:

The results support clinical trial data for afatinib in routine clinical practice, including in patients generally excluded from clinical trials. Outcomes were positive in patients with uncommon EGFR mutations and in those with brain metastases. Treatment benefit was also seen in patients receiving a <40 mg afatinib starting dose, supporting patient-tailored dosing.

Barriers to Prescribing Targeted Therapies for Patients With NSCLC With Highly Actionable Gene Variants in the Veterans Affairs National Precision Oncology Program

PURPOSE

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panels are frequently completed for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with highly actionable gene variants have improved outcomes and reduced toxicities with the use of corresponding targeted agents. We sought to identify barriers to targeted agent use within the Veterans Health Affairs' National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP).

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation of patients with NSCLC who underwent NGS multigene panels through NPOP between July 2015 and February 2019 was conducted. Patients who were assigned level 1 or 2A evidence for oncogenic gene variants by an artificial intelligence offering (IBM Watson for Genomics [WfG]) and NPOP staff were selected. Antineoplastic drug prescriptions and provider notes were reviewed. Reasons for withholding targeted treatments were categorized.

RESULTS

Of 1,749 patients with NSCLC who successfully underwent NGS gene panel testing, 112 (6.4%) patients were assigned level 1 and/or 2A evidence for available targeted treatments by WfG and NPOP staff. All highly actionable gene variants were within ALK, BRAF, EGFR, ERBB2, MET, RET, and ROS1. Of these, 36 (32.1%) patients were not prescribed targeted agents. The three most common reasons were (1) patient did not carry a diagnosis of metastatic disease (33.3%), (2) treating provider did not comment on the NGS results (25.0%), and (3) provider felt that patient could not tolerate therapy (19.4%). No patients were denied access to level 1 or 2A targeted drugs because of rejection of a nonformulary drug request.

CONCLUSION

A substantial minority of patients with NSCLC bearing highly actionable gene variants are not prescribed targeted agents. Further provider- and pathologist-directed educational efforts and implementation of health informatics systems to provide real-time decision support for test ordering and interpretation are needed.

Real-world treatment patterns and survival outcomes for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the pre-immunotherapy era in Portugal: a retrospective analysis from the I-O Optimise initiative

Background

As part of the multinational I-O Optimise research initiative, this retrospective cohort study of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) evaluated real-world treatment patterns and survival prior to immunotherapy reimbursement in Portugal.

Methods

This study utilized a database held by IPO-Porto, Portugal’s largest oncology hospital. Adult patients diagnosed with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC from January 2012 to December 2016 at IPO-Porto, with follow-up to June 2017, were included. Treatment analyses were performed from 2015 onwards. Kaplan–Meier methods were used for overall survival (OS). Factors associated with OS and systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) treatment were assessed using multivariate statistical models.

Results

Of 1524 patients diagnosed with NSCLC at IPO-Porto, 1008 patients had advanced disease (stage IIIB: 10.1%, 154/1524, stage IV: 56.0%, 854/1524). For those with advanced disease, median age was 65 years (range: 21–92) and 75.6% (762/1008) were male. Median OS (interquartile range [IQR]) was 11.4 (5.2–26.9) months for stage IIIB and 6.3 (2.4–15.0) months for stage IV. Factors associated with decreased risk of death included female sex and epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR)/anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) mutations/rearrangements; factors associated with increased risk of death included older age and stage IV disease. Among patients diagnosed in 2015 or 2016, 75.8% (297/392) received ≥1 line of SACT. Platinum-based chemotherapy was the most common first-line therapy (non-squamous cell carcinoma [NSQ]: 72.9%; squamous cell carcinoma [SQ] 87.3%, 55/63; patients with EGFR/ALK mutations/rearrangements primarily received tyrosine kinase inhibitors). The likelihood of receiving SACT was lower in older patients and those diagnosed with stage IV disease. Patients not receiving SACT had poor survival outcomes (median OS [IQR]: NSQ, 1.8 [1.1–3.1] months; SQ, 2.3 (1.3–3.4) months), while median OS (IQR) in SACT-treated patients was 12.6 (6.1–24.5) months for NSQ and 10.3 (5.7–15.9) months for SQ.

Conclusions

This real-world data analysis from a large Portuguese oncology hospital demonstrates a high disease burden for advanced NSCLC in the pre-immunotherapy era, with nearly one-quarter of patients not receiving SACT. Even in patients receiving SACT, median survival was only about 1 year.

Nationwide Real-world Cohort Study of First-line Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Treatment in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-mutated Non-small-cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND

Only a few randomized trials directly compared the relative efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and most trials comprised selected series from Asian populations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the overall survival (OS) of advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC in a large white population and to evaluate variation between different TKIs and identify predictors of survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Information about clinical characteristics, treatment, and survival for 873 patients with stage IV EGFR + NSCLC, diagnosed from 2015 through 2017, was derived from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. OS was evaluated by actuarial analysis and multivariable Cox regression. Prognostic factors are reported as hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of 596 (68%) patients received first-line treatment with regular TKIs, providing a median survival of 20.2 months. Forty-five percent of patients were 70 years and older, and 54% of patients had distant metastasis in multiple organs. In the multivariate analysis, survival was significantly worse for men, and patients with higher age, poorer performance, and ≥ 3 organs with metastasis. Compared with erlotinib, OS was worse for gefitinib users (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.64), predominantly in patients with brain metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Dutch patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC who received first-line treatment with regular TKIs have a median OS of 20.2 months in a nationwide real-world cohort. In patients with brain metastasis, erlotinib showed superior results compared with gefitinib and was similar to afatinib.

Cryobiopsy increases the EGFR detection rate in non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVES

Detection of activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is crucial for individualized treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However little is known about how biopsy technique affects the detection rate of EGFR mutations. This retrospective, single center study evaluated the detection rate of EGFR mutations in tissue obtained by bronchoscopic cryobiopsy and compared this to other standard tissue sampling techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 414 patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC and known EGFR mutation status between 3/2008-7/2014. Tumor specimens obtained by tissue preserving bronchoscopic cryobiopsy were compared to those obtained by other techniques.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Analysis of bronchoscopic cryobiopsy tissue detected 29 activating EGFR mutations in 27 (21.6 %) out of 125 patients, while analysis of tissue obtained by non-cryobiopsy techniques (bronchoscopic forceps biopsies, fine needle aspiration, imaging guided transthoracical and surgical procedures) detected 42 EGFR mutations in 40 (13.8 %) out of 298 patients (p < 0.05). Cryobiopsy increased detection rate of EGFR mutations in central tumors compared with forceps biopsy (19.6 % versus 6.5 %, p < 0.05), while an insignificant trend was detected also for peripheral tumors (33.3 % versus 26.9 %). Bronchosopic cryobiopsy increases the detection rate of activating EGFR mutations in NSCLC in comparison to other tissue sampling techniques. This will help to optimize individualized treatment of patients with advanced tumors. Because of the retrospective nature of this analysis, a prospective trial is mandatory for final assessment.

Clonality analysis of pulmonary tumors by genome-wide copy number profiling

Multiple tumors in patients are frequently diagnosed, either synchronous or metachronous. The distinction between a second primary and a metastasis is important for treatment. Chromosomal DNA copy number aberrations (CNA) patterns are highly unique to specific tumors. The aim of this study was to assess genome-wide CNA-patterns as method to identify clonally related tumors in a prospective cohort of patients with synchronous or metachronous tumors, with at least one intrapulmonary tumor. In total, 139 tumor pairs from 90 patients were examined: 35 synchronous and 104 metachronous pairs. Results of CNA were compared to histological type, clinicopathological methods (Martini-Melamed-classification (MM) and ACCP-2013-criteria), and, if available, EGFR- and KRAS-mutation analysis. CNA-results were clonal in 74 pairs (53%), non-clonal in 33 pairs (24%), and inconclusive in 32 pairs (23%). Histological similarity was found in 130 pairs (94%). Concordance between histology and conclusive CNA-results was 69% (74 of 107 pairs: 72 clonal and two non-clonal). In 31 of 103 pairs with similar histology, genetics revealed non-clonality. In two out of four pairs with non-matching histology, genetics revealed clonality. The subgroups of synchronous and metachronous pairs showed similar outcome for the comparison of histological versus CNA-results. MM-classification and ACCP-2013-criteria, applicable on 34 pairs, and CNA-results were concordant in 50% and 62% respectively. Concordance between mutation matching and conclusive CNA-results was 89% (8 of 9 pairs: six clonal and two non-clonal). Interestingly, in one patient both tumors had the same KRAS mutation, but the CNA result was non-clonal. In conclusion, although some concordance between histological comparison and CNA profiling is present, arguments exist to prefer extensive molecular testing to determine whether a second tumor is a metastasis or a second primary.

Targeting EGFR in Lung Cancer: Current Standards and Developments

Lung cancer is the second most common malignant tumor and the leading cause of cancer death. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a distinct subtype of lung cancer comprising approximately 15-40% of non-squamous tumors. The development of first- and second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been a significant step forward in the treatment of patients with EGFR-mutant tumors, and over the last few years has been the therapy of choice in the initial management of patients with activating mutations in EGFR, with some differences in efficacy and toxicity profile. Up to 50% of patients treated with first- and second-generation TKIs develop an EGFR exon 20 T790M mutation at the time of progression. In this context, osimertinib has shown a great benefit in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) in the second-line setting, including central nervous system metastasis control. The FLAURA trial, which compared osimertinib to first-generation inhibitors as first-line therapy, showed a clear PFS advantage for osimertinib and a trend towards an increased overall survival (OS) assessed by investigator review. Although T790M mutation is the most common mechanism of resistance to first- and second-generation EGFR TKIs, other EGFR-dependent and -independent mechanisms have been described, such as HER2 and MET amplifications or BRAF and MEK mutations. Some mechanisms of resistance to osimertinib and other third-generation TKIs have also been described. Several fourth-generation TKIs, targeted drug combinations and immunotherapy strategies are under investigation to overcome resistance to EGFR TKIs in order to improve EGFR-mutant NSCLC patient outcomes.

A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Association between EGFR Mutation Status and Brain Metastases in NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation have different clinicopathological characteristics compared with EGFR wild type NSCLC. A growing number of studies focused on the relevance between EGFR mutation status and brain metastases (BM) in NSCLC, but it remains controversial. Therefore, this study performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to untangle this issue. Several electronic databases including Pubmed, Embase, Web of science and Cochrane database were thoroughly searched. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was pooled to evaluate the relevance. Meta-regression analysis and subgroup analysis were conducted according to the heterogeneity. A total of 26 studies were identified finally in this meta-analysis. The overall OR was 1.58 (95%CI: 1.36-1.84), which indicated that EGFR mutation had a positive association with BM of NSCLC. The subgroup analysis resulted from eleven studies with lung adenocarcinoma revealed a higher possibility of BM in NSCLC with EGFR mutation compared with EGFR wild (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the risk of BM between NSCLC EGFR exon 19 mutation and exon 21 point mutation (p = 0.23). This meta-analysis suggests that EGFR mutation can be a risk factor for BM in NSCLC.

Prevalence of the epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in lung adenocarcinoma patients from the Middle East region

Lung cancer remains a major cause of cancer mortality with a 5-year survival in advanced stages around 4%. Platinum-based chemotherapy was routinely used as the standard of care in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer, but it is being progressively replaced by targeted molecular therapy. One of the molecular aberrations harbored by lung adenocarcinoma is the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). A large ethnic variation has been reported in the prevalence of EGFR mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Data regarding its prevalence from the Middle East area remains limited. This paper aims at reviewing the data available for the prevalence of this mutation in the Middle Eastern patient population and comparing it with other reported series.

microRNA-181b suppresses the metastasis of lung cancer cells by targeting sex determining region Y-related high mobility group-box 6 (Sox6)

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to measure the expression of microRNA (miR)-181b in patients with lung cancer, investigate its biological function and elucidate the underlying mechanisms associated with the development of lung cancer.

METHODS

miR-181b expression in tissues was measured via RT-qPCR. After A549 cells were transfected with miR-181b mimic or si-Sox6, the proliferation, migration and cell cycle distribution of A549 were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry. The levels of cell cycle-related proteins and Sox6 were analyzed by western blotting. Gene targets of miR-181b were predicted via bioinformatics analysis and verified using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

Expression of miR-181b was significantly downregulated in lung cancer tissues (P < 0.05), and was inversely correlated with the degree of cell differentiation and clinical stages of lung cancer (both P < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of miR-181b was significantly lower in adenocarcinoma compared with squamous cell carcinoma in the lungs (P < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-181b significantly decreased the protein level of Sox6 and significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and metastasis (both P < 0.05); this effect was also observed in A549 cells transfected with si-Sox6. The luciferase activity of a Sox6 3'-untranslated region-based reporter construct was significantly lower when transfected with miR-181b (P < 0.05), which suggests that Sox6 is a direct target of miR-181b.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggest that miR-181b may function as a tumor inhibitor in the development of lung cancer via targeting Sox6 to decrease the proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer cells.

Afatinib versus gemcitabine/cisplatin for first-line treatment of Chinese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations: subgroup analysis of the LUX-Lung 6 trial

Introduction

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death in China. Four epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors – afatinib, erlotinib, icotinib, and gefitinib – are available for first-line treatment of NSCLC in China; however, there are few data to guide treatment choice. The Phase III LUX-Lung 6 trial compared afatinib with platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of patients from Southeast Asia with EGFR mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. This post hoc analysis assessed the findings from LUX-Lung 6 in Chinese patients.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01121393.

Materials and methods

Previously untreated patients with EGFR mutation-positive stage IIIB/IV lung adenocarcinoma were randomized 2:1 to receive afatinib or ≤6 cycles of gemcitabine/ cisplatin. The key outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS; primary), objective response rate, disease control rate, overall survival (OS), duration of response and disease control, patient-reported outcomes, and safety. Three hundred and twenty-seven patients from mainland China were treated (89.8% of overall LUX-Lung 6 population; afatinib 217, gemcitabine/cisplatin 110).

Results

PFS was significantly longer with afatinib than gemcitabine/cisplatin (median 11.0 versus 5.6 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.30 [95% CI, 0.21, 0.43]; P,0.0001). Overall, there was no significant difference in OS between treatment arms; however, in a subgroup analysis, afatinib significantly improved OS versus gemcitabine/cisplatin in patients with an EGFR Del19 mutation (median 31.6 versus 16.3 months; HR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.41, 0.91]; P=0.0146). Afatinib was well tolerated, with most treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) being of grade 1 or 2 severity. The most common grade 3/4 TRAEs with afatinib were rash/acne (15.9%/0.5%), stomatitis (6.1%/0%), and diarrhea (5.6%/0%). TRAEs leading to permanent discontinuation were reported in 12 patients (5.6%) receiving afatinib and 43 (41.7%) receiving gemcitabine/cisplatin. Afatinib significantly improved PFS compared with standard first-line chemotherapy in Chinese patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC and demonstrated a manageable safety profile.

Conclusion

The findings support the rationale for using afatinib as a first-line treatment option for this patient population.

Treating EGFR-Mutated Oncogene-Addicted Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the Era of Economic Crisis in Greece: Challenges and Opportunities

PURPOSE

Because of the profound financial crisis that commenced in Greece in 2010, severe cuts in health care spending and other restriction measures led to significant delays in the reimbursement of novel antineoplastic agents. In 2011, the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology initiated a program of early access to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of patients with advanced, EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We evaluated treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with EGFR-mutant or wild-type disease treated at a large center in Greece throughout the period of financial crisis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2011 through 2015, 252 patients with newly diagnosed advanced NSCLC were treated at the Department of Medical Oncology of the Papageorgiou Hospital, a tertiary cancer center in northern Greece. We retrospectively reviewed patient medical records to obtain clinicopathologic characteristics, EGFR mutation status, and follow-up data. The primary end point was time to treatment failure.

RESULTS

Of the 198 evaluable patients, 25 (12%) had EGFR mutations. All patients with EGFR mutations except one received treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Median times to treatment failure for patients with EGFR-mutant and wild-type disease were 15.8 and 7.1 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.95; P = .031). There was no difference in overall survival between the two groups ( P = .293). No deviation from treatment guidelines or discontinuation of treatment regimens occurred because of logistic reasons or drug shortages.

CONCLUSION

Despite restrictions in the reimbursement policy and accompanying controls in the use of high-cost medicines, the national program enabled treatment of patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC according to established guidelines. Therefore, the clinical outcomes of such patients treated in Greece during the economic crisis were in accordance with international standards.

EGFR Mutation Testing of non-squamous NSCLC: Impact and Uptake during Implementation of Testing Guidelines in a Population-Based Registry Cohort from Northern New Zealand

BACKGROUND

Since 2013, clinical practice guidelines recommend EGFR mutation testing of non-squamous NSCLC to select advanced-stage patients for first-line treatment using EGFR-TKIs.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine population-based trends in the real-world uptake and impact in routine practice of these recently updated testing guidelines.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A population-based observational study was conducted of notifications to the New Zealand Cancer Registry of patients eligible for EGFR testing diagnosed in northern New Zealand between January 2010 and April 2014. The main study variable was EGFR mutation testing. Main outcome measures (overall survival and dispensing of EGFR-TKIs) were extracted from prospectively archived electronic databases until October 2015.

RESULTS

The population-based cohort of 1857 patients had an average age of 70 years. Most had adenocarcinoma and metastatic disease at diagnosis. EGFR testing was undertaken in 500 patients (27%) with mutations detected in 109 patients (22%). EGFR testing increased during the period of study from <5% to 67% of patients (P < 0.0001). Full uptake of testing by all eligible patients was limited by a lack of availability of specimens for testing and variable testing referral practices. The proportion of patients treated with EGFR-TKIs decreased during the same time period, both among untested patients (from 12.2% to 2.8% (P < 0.0001)) and in the population as a whole (from 13.7% to 10.6% (P < 0.05)). EGFR testing was associated with prolonged overall survival (Adjusted HR = 0.76 (95% CI, 0.65-0.89) Log-rank P < 0.0001) due at least in part to the much longer overall survival achieved by mutation-positive patients, of whom 79% received EGFR-TKIs. Compared to untested EGFR-TKI-treated patients, mutation-positive EGFR-TKI-treated patients received EGFR-TKIs for longer, and survived longer both from the start of EGFR-TKI treatment and date of their diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real world setting, high uptake of EGFR testing was achieved and associated with major changes in EGFR-TKI prescribing and improved health outcomes. Modifiable factors determined testing uptake. Study registration ACTRN12615000998549.

Novel approaches against epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance

BACKGROUND

The identification and characterization of molecular biomarkers has helped to revolutionize non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) management, as it transitions from target-focused to patient-based treatment, centered on the evolving genomic profile of the individual. Determination of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status represents a critical step in the diagnostic process. The recent emergence of acquired resistance to "third-generation" EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) via multiple mechanisms serves to illustrate the important influence of tumor heterogeneity on prognostic outcomes in patients with NSCLC.

DESIGN

This literature review examines the emergence of TKI resistance and the course of disease progression and, consequently, the clinical decision-making process in NSCLC.

RESULTS

Molecular markers of acquired resistance, of which T790M and HER2 or MET amplifications are the most common, help to guide ongoing treatment past the point of progression. Although tissue biopsy techniques remain the gold standard, the emergence of liquid biopsies and advances in analytical techniques may eventually allow "real-time" monitoring of tumor evolution and, in this way, help to optimize targeted treatment approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity on resistance mechanisms should be considered when treating patients using resistance-specific therapies. New tools are necessary to analyze changes in heterogeneity and clonal composition during drug treatment. The refinement and standardization of diagnostic procedures and increased accessibility to technology will ultimately help in personalizing the management of NSCLC.

Treatment decisions, clinical outcomes, and pharmacoeconomics in the treatment of patients with EGFR mutated stage III/IV NSCLC in Germany: an observational study

Background

We evaluated treatment decisions and outcomes in a cohort of predominately Caucasian patients with EGFR mutation-positive (EGFR Mut+) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

REASON (NCT00997230) was a non-interventional study in German patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC. Secondary endpoints for EGFR Mut + NSCLC included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), adverse event (AE) management, and pharmacoeconomic outcomes.

Results

Among 334 patients with EGFR Mut + NSCLC, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were the most common first-line therapy (56.6%, 53.0% gefitinib). Among patients who received TKIs/gefitinib before first disease progression, PFS was longer compared with those who did not receive a TKI (median 10.1/10.0 vs. 7.0 months; HR 0.67/0.69; log-rank p = 0.012/p = 0.022). OS was longer for those patients who ever received a TKI/gefitinib during their complete therapy course compared with those who never received a TKI (median 18.4/18.1 vs. 13.6 months; HR 0.53/0.55; p = 0.003/p = 0.005). Total mean first-line treatment healthcare costs per person were higher for those receiving TKIs (€46,443) compared with those who received chemotherapy (€27,182). Mean outpatient and inpatient costs were highest with chemotherapy. Rash, diarrhea, and dry skin were the most commonly reported AEs for patients receiving gefitinib.

Conclusions

In REASON, TKI therapy was the most common first- and second-line treatment for EGFR Mut + NSCLC, associated with increased drug costs compared with chemotherapy. Patients who received gefitinib or a TKI ever during their complete therapy course had prolonged PFS and OS compared with patients who did not receive a TKI.

Trial registration

The trial was registered on October, 2009 with ClinicalTrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00997230?term=NCT00997230&rank=1

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4032-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Frequency and clinical relevance of EGFR mutations and EML4-ALK translocations in octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have improved response rates in some patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and testing for EGFR mutation and ALK translocation is recommended for all patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. The frequency of driver mutations in elderly and very elderly patients has not been described.

Patients and methods

We reviewed EGFR and ALK in patients over the age of 70 years diagnosed and treated at our center in 2015 (subgroups: 70-74, 75-79 and >80 years). We then assessed a second cohort, including all patients with lung cancer over the age of 80 years diagnosed in 2014. We also analyzed smoking history, treatment and response.

Results

In the 2015 cohort of 179 patients, 16 were 80 years or older at diagnosis. Six of eight (75%) octogenarians with non-squamous NSCLC were EGFR or ALK positive. The 2014 cohort confirmed the high rate of driver alterations in octogenarians. Of 334 patients, 32 were 80 years or older and, of these, 10 had non-squamous histology and were tested for driver alterations (four of 10 [40%] EGFR or ALK positive). Rates of genetic drivers were somewhat lower in patients with non-squamous NSCLC aged 70-74 years (27.0%) and 75-79 years (26.7%). When treated with a TKI, octogenarians had high response rates and progression-free survival. Most octogenarians with lung adenocarcinoma were never smokers, with an inverse correlation of pack-years smoked to age at diagnosis.

Conclusion

Very elderly patients with non-squamous NSCLC show high rates of driver alterations in EGFR and ALK. This, often frail and comorbid, population may not be fit for treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy and may benefit from targeted treatments. Testing for EGFR and ALK alterations should not be restricted to younger patients. The biology of lung cancer in the very elderly may differ from that of moderately elderly patients, as longevity may select for individuals more resistant to, or with little exposure to, environmental carcinogens.

[Hyponatremia in a 58-year-old female patient with EGFR-positive lung adenocarcinoma]

The case of a 58-year old female patient with epidermal growth factor-positive pulmonary adenocarcinoma treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor afatinib is reported. After several months of first-line therapy the patient developed severe hyponatremia and tumor reassessment revealed a progressive course of the lung cancer. Rebiopsy showed transformation of the tumor into small-cell lung cancer. Therapy with afatinib was stopped immediately and platin-based chemotherapy was started. This case shows that tumor transformation under tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy from non-small-cell into small-cell lung cancer can occur in rare cases.

Oncogenic driver mutations, treatment, and EGFR-TKI resistance in a Caucasian population with non-small cell lung cancer: survival in clinical practice

Introduction

Oncogenic driver mutations activating EGFR, ALK, or BRAF in NSCLC predict sensitivity to specific tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We provide data on prevalence, treatment and survival of driver-mutation positive NSCLC in a predominantly Caucasian population in routine clinical practice.

Patients and Methods

NSCLC patients diagnosed from 2006-2015 with an EGFR-test result were included (n=265). Testing for EGFR, ALK, or BRAF was performed if specific TKI therapy was considered. Case-control analyses of overall survival (OS) comparing driver-mutation positive and negative patients were performed.

Results

44 sensitizing EGFR mutations (17%), 8 ALK translocations (7%, n=111) and 3 BRAF mutations (8%, n=39) were detected in adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma. We did not find mutations in tumors without an adenocarcinoma-component. More than 90% of inoperable driver-mutation positive patients received TKI-therapy. Case-control analysis revealed improved OS of driver-mutation positive patients (39.6 vs. 19.4 months, HR 0.51). OS was improved in stage IV patients but not in stage I-III patients.

OS of EGFR-TKI treated patients was similar for 1^st and 2^nd-line EGFR-TKI treatment. Patients not treated with EGFR-TKI had no benefit in OS. Re-biopsies obtained at progression revealed an EGFR-T790M mutation in 73% (n=11). These patients responded to the 3^rd-generation EGFR-TKI osimertinib.

Discussion

Testing guided by predictive clinical parameters resulted in twice as high rates of mutation-positive patients than expected, and TKI treatment resulted in a strong long-term OS advantage.

Conclusion

Testing for driver mutations is feasible in routine clinical practice, and identifies patients who benefit from TKI-therapy. OS compares favorably with OS in clinical studies.

EGFR mutation in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: does it carry the same connotation as in adenocarcinomas?

BACKGROUND

EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have greatly improved the outcomes of EGFR mutation-positive adenocarcinomas of the lung. In contrast, the significance of EGFR mutation in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung has been debated.

METHODS

All patients with metastatic SCC who underwent EGFR mutation testing at our center from 2010 to 2015 were included for analysis. EGFR kinase domain mutations were tested using Taqman-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Response assessment was done using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. Kaplan-Meier method was used for calculating progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

EGFR mutation was detected in 29 out of 639 patients with SCC. Furthermore, 19 out of the 29 patients received TKIs at some point during their treatment. TKI therapy led to a partial response in 5 out of 19 patients and stable disease in 4 out of 19 patients. The median PFS of patients treated with TKIs was 5.0 months. The median OS of the whole EGFR-positive SCC cohort was 6.6 months. On univariate analysis, patients having received TKI therapy was the only factor associated with a significantly better OS of 13.48 months versus 2.58 months (P=0.000). On multivariate analysis, patients receiving TKI therapy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Scale (ECOG-PS) score <2, EGFR exon 19 mutation and nonsmoking status were associated with significantly better OS.

CONCLUSION

EGFR mutation in SCC of the lung predicts a better outcome if the patient is given TKI, but it may be inferior to the outcomes seen in EGFR-positive adenocarcinomas treated with TKI.

Flipped script for gefitinib: A reapproved tyrosine kinase inhibitor for first-line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor mutation positive metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer

Purpose The approval history, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, efficacy, dosing recommendations, drug interactions, safety, place in therapy, and economic considerations of gefitinib are reviewed. Summary Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and is the leading cause of cancer death. Platinum-based chemotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as erlotinib and afatinib, are recommended therapies for nonsmall cell lung cancer. The European Medicines Association based their approval of gefitinib on the randomized, multicenter Iressa Pan-Asia Study (IPASS, NCT00322452) and a single-arm study showing effectiveness in Caucasians (IFUM, NCT01203917). Both studies were recently referenced by the United States Food & Drug Administration to reapprove gefitinib for the first-line treatment of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletions or exon 21 substitution. Diarrhea, acneiform rash, and interstitial lung disease are known side effects of gefitinib. Conclusion Use of gefitinib for the first-line therapy of metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletions (residues 747-750) or exon 21 substitution mutation (L858R) is well-documented and supported.

Comprehensive Characterization of Molecular Differences in Cancer between Male and Female Patients

An individual's sex has been long recognized as a key factor affecting cancer incidence, prognosis, and treatment responses. However, the molecular basis for sex disparities in cancer remains poorly understood. We performed a comprehensive analysis of molecular differences between male and female patients in 13 cancer types of The Cancer Genome Atlas and revealed two sex-effect groups associated with distinct incidence and mortality profiles. One group contains a small number of sex-affected genes, whereas the other shows much more extensive sex-biased molecular signatures. Importantly, 53% of clinically actionable genes (60/114) show sex-biased signatures. Our study provides a systematic molecular-level understanding of sex effects in diverse cancers and suggests a pressing need to develop sex-specific therapeutic strategies in certain cancer types.