Efficacy and safety evaluation of icotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Efficacy and safety of icotinib in treating non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic evaluation and meta-analysis based on 15 studies

Icotinib is a new epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that developed and used in China; this work was to evaluate its efficacy and safety in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of icotinib in treating NSCLC were identified from the databases of Medline, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrance Library. Pooled efficacy and safety of icotinib were calculated through a series of predefined search strategies. A total of 15 studies with 2,304 patients were involved in this study. The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of icotinib were 40.99% (95% CI: 33.77% to 48.22%) and 77.16% (95% CI: 51.43% to 82.31%). The pooled progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 7.34 months (95% CI: 5.60 to 9.07) and 14.98 months (95% CI: 9.78 to 20.18). Patients with EGFR mutations exhibited better ORR (OR = 3.67, p < 0.001), DCR (OR = 1.39, p = 0.001) and PFS (11.0 ± 0.76 vs. 1.97 ± 0.82 months). Moreover, patients with rash had a higher ORR (OR = 2.14, p = 0.001) than those without rash. The common adverse effects (AEs) included skin rash (31.4%), diarrhea (14.2%), pruritus (6.7%) and hepatic toxicity (3.8%) and most of them were well tolerated. In conclusion, Icotinib is an effective and well tolerated regimen for Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC. Further randomized trials with large population are required to provide stronger evidence for icotinib in treating NSCLC.

Clinical efficacy of icotinib in lung cancer patients with different EGFR mutation status: a meta-analysis

Icotinib is a novel and the third listed epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), which exerts a good anti-tumor efficacy on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The efficacy of EGFR-TKIs has been shown to be associated with the EGFR mutation status, especially exon 19 deletion (19Del) and exon 21 L858R mutation. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of icotinib in NSCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations (19Del or L858R) and wild type (19Del and L858R loci wild type). A total of 24 studies were included for comparing the objective response rate (ORR) in the EGFR wild type and mutant patients treated with icotinib. The ORRs of EGFR mutant patients (19Del or L858R) are better than those of EGFR wild type patients (OR = 7.03(5.09-9.71), P < 0.00001). The pooling ORs from 21 studies on the disease control rate (DCR) in EGFR mutant patients are better than those of EGFR wild type patients (OR = 10.54(5.72-19.43), P < 0.00001). Moreover, the ORRs of EGFR 19Del patients are better than those of EGFR L858R patients after pooling ORs of 12 studies (OR = 2.04(1.12-3.73), P = 0.019). However, there was no significant difference on DCRs of EGFR 19Del patients and those of EGFR L858R patients (OR = 2.01(0.94-4.32), P = 0.072). Our findings indicated that compared with EGFR wild type patients, EGFR mutant patients have better ORRs and DCRs after icotinib treatment; EGFR 19Del patients treated with icotinib have better ORRs than EGFR L858R patients. EGFR mutation status is a useful biomarker for the evaluation of icotinib efficacy in NSCLC patients.

[Clinical Analysis of Icotinib on Beneficiary of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with EGFR Common Mutation]

背景与目的

靶向治疗已经成为晚期非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）治疗中不可或缺的重要手段，表皮生长因子受体（epithelial growth factor receptor, EGFR）的酪氨酸激酶抑制剂（tyrosine kinase inhibitor, TKI）可显著延长晚期携带EGFR基因突变肺癌患者生存期。埃克替尼是我国第一个拥有自主知识产权的EGFR-TKI。本研究旨在探讨埃克替尼治疗EGFR敏感突变的晚期NSCLC获益患者的临床特点，对获益患者[无进展生存时间（progression-free survival, PFS）≥6个月]进行回顾性资料收集并分析相关影响因素。

方法

收集2011年9月1日-2015年9月30日浙江省肿瘤医院经埃克替尼片治疗的231例EGFR敏感突变的晚期NSCLC获益患者的生存情况。

结果

经埃克替尼治疗后，一线治疗组1年获益率达67.9%，二线及以上组为53.6%，具有统计学意义（P=0.027）；一线治疗组2年获益率对比二线及以上组亦有统计学差异（18.7%和9.3%，P=0.047）。一线患者和二线及以上患者的中位PFS分别为16.7个月和12.4个月，且差异具有统计学意义（P=0.006）。其中有无脑转移（P=0.010）、埃克替尼治疗时机（P=0.001）、美国东部肿瘤协作组（Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, ECOG）评分（P=0.001）为影响预后的主要因素。主要不良反应为皮疹51例（22.1%），腹泻27例（11.7%）。

结论

埃克替尼是EGFR基因敏感突变的晚期NSCLC患者有效的治疗方案，其优势人群除无脑转移者及ECOG评分好的患者外，一线治疗患者疗效明显优于二线及以上者。敏感突变患者采用埃克替尼可得到较好的临床获益，并具有较好的耐受性。

[Clinical Observation of Icotinib Hydrochloride for Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with EGFR Status Identified]

背景与目的

盐酸埃克替尼（icotinib hydrochloride）是我国第一个具有自主知识产权的小分子靶向抗癌新药，与吉非替尼和厄洛替尼相比，在化学结构、分子作用机理、疗效等方面相似。本研究观察盐酸埃克替尼治疗表皮生长因子受体突变状态明确的晚期非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）的疗效和毒副反应。

方法

回顾性分析2009年3月-2014年12月间北京胸科医院收治的晚期NSCLC患者，表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR）突变状态已知，均口服盐酸埃克替尼治疗，评价其疗效和毒副反应。

结果

124例组织学证实的晚期NSCLC患者，其中EGFR突变型99例，野生型25例。全组客观有效率（ objective response rate, ORR）为51.6%，疾病控制率（disease control rate, DCR）为79.8%。突变型和野生型患者的ORR：63.6% vs 4.0%，DCR：93.9% vs 24.0%，两者均有统计学差异（P < 0.000, 1）。突变型和野生型患者的无进展生存期（progression-free survival, PFS）（分别为10.5个月和1.0个月）（P < 0.000, 1）。治疗相关的毒副反应主要为皮疹38例（30.6%），腹泻20例（16.1%）。

结论

盐酸埃克替尼治疗EGFR突变的晚期NSCLC疗效肯定，耐受性好。

Comparison of the efficacy of icotinib in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer according to the type of epidermal growth factor receptor mutation

Icotinib hydrochloride is a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with preclinical and clinical activity in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Exon 19 deletion and L858R point mutation are the most commonly encountered EGFR mutations in NSCLC, and they predict improved clinical outcomes following treatment with icotinib. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differential clinical efficacy of icotinib in patients with exon 19 deletion or L858R point mutation of the EGFR gene. A total of 104 patients with advanced NSCLC, who harbored exon 19 deletion or L858R point mutation of EGFR and were treated with icotinib, were enrolled in this study. The tumor response and progression-free survival were evaluated. There were no significant differences between patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion and those with L858R point mutation who received treatment with icotinib.

Efficacy and safety of icotinib as first-line therapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Background and objective

Several clinical trials have proven that icotinib hydrochloride, a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–tyrosine kinase inhibitor, exhibits encouraging efficacy and tolerability in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who failed previous chemotherapy. This study was performed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of icotinib as first-line therapy for patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR-sensitive mutation.

Patients and methods

Thirty-five patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR-sensitive mutation who were sequentially admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from March 2012 to March 2014 were enrolled into our retrospective research. All patients were administered icotinib as first-line treatment. The tumor responses were evaluated using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST, version 1.1).

Results

Among the 35 patients, the tumor objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate were 62.9% (22/35) and 88.6% (31/35), respectively. The median progression-free survival was 11.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.2–11.8 months), and median overall survival was 21.0 months (95% CI: 20.1–21.9 months). The most common drug-related toxicities were rashes (eleven patients) and diarrhea (nine patients), but these were generally manageable and reversible.

Conclusion

Icotinib monotherapy is effective and tolerable as first-line treatment for patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR-sensitive mutation.

Fatal interstitial lung disease associated with icotinib

The most serious, and maybe fatal, yet rare, adverse reaction of gefitinib and erlotinib is drug-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD), which has been often described. However, it has been less well described for icotinib, a similar orally small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). The case of a 25-year-old female patient with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma who developed fatal ILD is reported here. She denied chemotherapy, and received palliative treatment with icotinib (125 mg po, three times daily) on March 1, 2013. One month after treatment initiation, the patient complained of continuous dry cough and rapid progressive dyspnea. Forty one days after icotinib treatment, icotinib associated ILD was suspected when the patient became increasingly dyspnoeic despite of treatment of pericardial effusion, left pleural effusion and lower respiratory tract infection, and X-ray computed tomography (CT) of chest revealed multiple effusion shadows and ground-glass opacities in bilateral lungs. Then, icotinib was discontinued and intravenous corticosteroid was started (methylprednisolone 40 mg once daily, about 1 mg per kilogram) respectively. Forty three days after icotinib treatment, the patient died of hypoxic respiratory failure. ILD should be considered as a rare, but often fatal side effect associated with icotinib treatment.

Targeted treatment of mutated EGFR-expressing non-small-cell lung cancer: focus on erlotinib with companion diagnostics

Deeper understanding of the pathobiology of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has led to the development of small molecules that target genetic mutations known to play critical roles in the progression to metastatic disease. The discovery of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in 15%–20% of lung adenocarcinomas and the associated response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have provided a successful avenue of attack in late-stage adenocarcinomas. Use of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib is limited to patients who have adenocarcinomas with known activating EGFR mutations. However, the EGFR mutation testing landscape is varied and includes many screening and targeted methods, each with its own benefits and limitations. These tests can simplify the drug discovery process, make clinical trials more efficient and informative, and individualize cancer therapy. In practice, the choice of method should be determined by the nature of the sample to be tested, the testing laboratory’s expertise and access to equipment, and whether the detection of only known activating EGFR mutations, or of all possible mutations, is required. Development of companion diagnostic tests for this identification is advancing; nevertheless, the use of such tests merits greater attention.

Icotinib inhibits the invasion of Tca8113 cells via downregulation of nuclear factor κB-mediated matrix metalloproteinase expression

Icotinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which has been revealed to inhibit proliferation in tumor cells. However, the effect of icotinib on cancer cell metastasis remains to be explained. This study examines the effect of icotinib on the migration and invasion of squamous cells of tongue carcinoma (Tca8113 cells) in vitro. The results of the Boyden chamber invasion assay demonstrated that icotinib reduced cell invasion, suppressed the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, and increased the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. In addition, icotinib was found to significantly decrease the protein levels of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65, which suggested that icotinib inhibits NF-κB activity. Furthermore, treatment with the NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, suppressed cell invasion and MMP-2 expression. These results suggested that icotinib inhibits the invasion of Tca8113 cells by downregulating MMP via the inactivation of the NF-κB signaling pathways.

Treating advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in Chinese patients: focus on icotinib

Icotinib hydrochloride is an orally administered small-molecule reversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been independently researched and developed and has independent intellectual property rights in the People's Republic of China. Clinical trials have demonstrated that the response to icotinib among advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who received at least one platinum-based chemotherapy regimen was not inferior to gefitinib. Since being launched August 2011 in the People's Republic of China, icotinib has been widely used in clinics, and has become an important treatment option for Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC. The present study presents the Phase I, II, and III clinical trials of icotinib and discusses current clinical applications in the People's Republic of China and future research directions.

[Efficacy of icotinib for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with EGFR status identified]

背景与目的

埃克替尼是国内第一个口服的表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR）酪氨酸激酶受体抑制剂，在体内外实验研究中显示出对非小细胞肺癌的明显抑制作用。Ⅲ期临床研究ICOGEN显示埃克替尼对复治晚期非小细胞肺癌疗效不劣于吉非替尼。本研究探讨在晚期非小细胞肺癌明确EGFR状态的患者中（EGFR野生型和突变型）埃克替尼的疗效和安全性。

方法

回顾性分析2011年8月-2012年8月在浙江省肿瘤医院就诊并行埃克替尼治疗的晚期非小细胞肺癌患者，Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析和比较。

结果

49例患者明确了EGFR突变状态并行埃克替尼治疗，49例患者中13例为野生型，36例为突变型。突变患者的客观缓解率和疾病控制率分别为58.3%和88.9%，野生型患者的客观缓解率和疾病控制率分别为7.7%和53.8%。突变和野生型患者的中位无进展生存期为9.5个月和2.2个月（P < 0.001）。36例突变患者中一线治疗19例，二线及二线以上患者17例。一线和复治患者的中位无进展生存期（progression-free survival, PFS）分别为9.5个月和8.5个月（P=0.41）。突变型患者的中位总生存期（overall survival, OS）尚未达到，野生型患者的OS为12.6个月。患者的不良反应以皮疹和腹泻为主，但多为轻到中度。

结论

埃克替尼在EGFR突变患者中的疗效较好，可以作为EGFR突变患者的优选方案。患者的毒副反应多数可以耐受。