A Phase II Study of Osimertinib in Patients with Advanced-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer following Prior Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (EGFR TKI) Therapy with EGFR and T790M Mutations Detected in Plasma Circulating Tumour DNA (PLASMA Study)

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutations drive resistance in 50% of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progress on first/second generation (1G/2G) EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and are sensitive to Osimertinib. Tissue sampling is the gold-standard modality of T790M testing, but it is invasive. We evaluated the efficacy of Osimertinib in patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC and T790M in circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). PLASMA is a prospective, open-label, multicentre single-arm Phase II study. Patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring sensitizing EGFR and T790M mutations in plasma at progression from ≥one 1G/2G TKI were treated with 80 mg of Osimertinib daily until progression. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR); the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and toxicities. Plasma next-generation sequencing was performed to determine Osimertinib resistance mechanisms and assess serial ctDNA. A total of 110 patients from eight centres in five countries were enrolled from 2017 to 2019. The median follow-up duration was 2.64 (IQR 2.44-3.12) years. The ORR was 50.9% (95% CI 41.2-60.6) and the DCR was 84.5% (95% CI 76.4-90.7). Median PFS was 7.4 (95% CI 6.0-9.3) months; median OS was 1.63 (95% CI 1.35-2.16) years. Of all of the patients, 76% had treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), most commonly paronychia (22.7%); 11% experienced ≥ Grade 3 TRAEs. The ctDNA baseline load and dynamics were prognostic. Osimertinib is active in NSCLC harbouring sensitizing EGFR and T790M mutations in ctDNA testing post 1G/2G TKIs.

Effects of Early Short-Course Corticosteroids on Immune-Related Adverse Events in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

INTRODUCTION

In real-world practice, most non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving combined immunochemotherapy are exposed to short-course corticosteroids following immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) infusion to prevent chemotherapy-related adverse events. However, whether this early short-course corticosteroid use prevents immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remains unknown.

METHODS

Between January 1st, 2015, and December 31st, 2020, NSCLC patients who received at least one cycle of ICI with or without chemotherapy were enrolled. Early short-course corticosteroids were defined as corticosteroids administered following ICI injection and before chemotherapy on the same day and no longer than 3 days afterward. The patients were categorized as either "corticosteroid group" or "non-corticosteroid group" depending on their exposure to early short-course corticosteroid. The frequencies of irAEs requiring systemic corticosteroid use and irAEs leading to ICI discontinuation were compared between the two groups, and exploratory survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Among 252 eligible patients, 137 patients were categorized as "corticosteroid group" and 115 patients as "non-corticosteroid group." The corticosteroid group enriched patients in the first-line setting (n = 75, 54.7%), compared to the non-corticosteroid group (n = 28, 24.3%). Thirty patients (21.9%) in the corticosteroid group and 35 patients (30.4%) in the non-corticosteroid group developed irAEs requiring systemic corticosteroid use (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-1.18; p = 0.15). Eight patients (5.8%) in the corticosteroid group, as compared with 18 patients (15.7%) in the non-corticosteroid group, permanently discontinued ICI due to irAEs (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.85; p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

Early short-course corticosteroids following each ICI injection may reduce the rate of irAEs that lead to ICIs discontinuation, warranting further investigation of its prophylactic use to mitigate clinically significant irAEs.

Clinical efficacy and biomarker analysis of dual PD-1/CTLA-4 blockade in recurrent/metastatic EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Single-agent checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) activity in Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) related nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is limited. Dual CPI shows increased activity in solid cancers. In this single-arm phase II trial (NCT03097939), 40 patients with recurrent/metastatic EBV-positive NPC who failed prior chemotherapy receive nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks and ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks. Primary outcome of best overall response rate (BOR) and secondary outcomes (progression-free survival [PFS], clinical benefit rate, adverse events, duration of response, time to progression, overall survival [OS]) are reported. The BOR is 38% with median PFS and OS of 5.3 and 19.5 months, respectively. This regimen is well-tolerated and treatment-related adverse events requiring discontinuation are low. Biomarker analysis shows no correlation of outcomes to PD-L1 expression or tumor mutation burden. While the BOR does not meet pre-planned estimates, patients with low plasma EBV-DNA titre (<7800 IU/ml) trend to better response and PFS. Deep immunophenotyping of pre- and on-treatment tumor biopsies demonstrate early activation of the adaptive immune response, with T-cell cytotoxicity seen in responders prior to any clinically evident response. Immune-subpopulation profiling also identifies specific PD-1 and CTLA-4 expressing CD8 subpopulations that predict for response to combined immune checkpoint blockade in NPC.

Short-course pembrolizumab and continuous afatinib therapy for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a real-world data analysis

OBJECTIVES

The optimal duration of anti-PD-1 for cancer therapy has not been tested, especially when using combination therapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway blocker was the top compound that enhanced T-cell killing of tumor cells in a high-throughput immune-oncology screen, possibly by stimulate the antigen presentation machinery and other mechanisms. We explored the effect of combination of EGFR inhibition with a short course of anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC).

METHOD

We analyzed the effect of a short course of anti-PD-1 with continuous afatinib on the survival of a real-world cohort of R/M HNSCC patients. Patient characteristics, treatments, efficacies, and toxicities were reviewed and recorded for analysis.

RESULTS

From November 2016 to May 2018, 51 consecutive patients received pembrolizumab and afatinib. The cutoff date was June 30, 2022. The most common toxicities (all grades) were diarrhea (62.7%), skin rash (43.1%), mucositis (31.4%), and paronychia (23.5%). The objective response rate was 54.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 40.3-68.9%). Median progression-free survival was 5.9 months (95% CI: 4.4-7.6 months), and the median overall survival was 10.5 months (95% CI: 6.8-16.5 months). The 12-month, 24-month, 36-month, and 48-month survival rate was 47.0%, 22.5%, 17.7%, and 12.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study showed that short course pembrolizumab with afatinib therapy has acceptable efficacy in R/M HNSCC patients. The durable response and long-term survival rates were similar to prospective clinical trials. Short course anti-PD-1 therapy, especially in combination with EGFR blocker, is worth for further prospective study.

Afatinib and Pembrolizumab for Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ALPHA Study): A Phase II Study with Biomarker Analysis

PURPOSE

EGFR pathway inhibition may promote anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) responses in preclinical models, but how EGFR inhibition affects tumor antigen presentation during anti-PD-1 monotherapy in humans remain unknown. We hypothesized that afatinib, an irreversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, would improve outcomes in patients treated with pembrolizumab for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by promoting antigen presentation and immune activation in the tumor microenvironment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The ALPHA study (NCT03695510) was a single-arm, Phase II study with Simon's 2-stage design. Afatinib and pembrolizumab were administered to patients with platinum-refractory, recurrent, or metastatic HNSCC. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). The study applied gene expression analysis using a NanoString PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel and next-generation sequencing using FoundationOne CDx.

RESULTS

From January 2019 to March 2020, the study enrolled 29 eligible patients. Common treatment-related adverse events were skin rash (75.9%), diarrhea (58.6%), and paronychia (44.8%). Twelve patients (41.4%) had an objective partial response to treatment. The median progression-free survival was 4.1 months, and the median overall survival was 8.9 months. In a paired tissue analysis, afatinib-pembrolizumab were found to upregulate genes involved in antigen presentation, immune activation, and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Unaltered methylthioadenosine phosphorylase and EGFR amplification may predict the clinical response to the therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Afatinib may augment pembrolizumab therapy and improve the ORR in patients with HNSCC. Bioinformatics analysis suggested the enhancement of antigen presentation machinery in the tumor microenvironment.

Serial Plasma Cell-Free Circulating Tumor DNA Tests Identify Genomic Alterations for Early Prediction of Osimertinib Treatment Outcome in EGFR T790M-Positive NSCLC

Introduction

Recent advances in the detection of genomic DNA from plasma samples allow us to follow tumor DNA shedding in plasma during systemic treatment. Osimertinib is the standard of care for patients with NSCLC with acquired EGFR T790M mutations. We assessed changes in serial plasma cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) genomic alterations to predict osimertinib efficacy.

Methods

We prospectively collected plasma from patients having EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC previously treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy and with acquired EGFR T790M mutation detected by standard methods. Plasma samples were collected before starting osimertinib treatment, 4 weeks after osimertinib treatment, and on progression. ctDNA was analyzed using the Guardant360 assay.

Results

A total of 15 eligible patients received osimertinib. Before starting treatment, EGFR-activating mutations were detected in the ctDNA of all patients, and EGFR T790M was detected in 93% of the cases. Osimertinib treatment was associated with an objective response rate of 53% and a median progression-free survival of 7.3 months. A total of 12 of the 15 patients had undetectable plasma T790M and decreased activating mutation allelic frequency (AF) at week 4. None of the 12 patients had disease progression within 16 weeks. For the remaining three patients, with detectable plasma T790M (n = 2) or increased activating mutation AF (n = 1) at week 4, two had progressive disease within 16 weeks (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

In patients with EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC, persistent EGFR T790M or increasing activating mutation AF as detected in ctDNA 4 weeks after the start of osimertinib treatment may predict disease progression within 16 weeks.

Afatinib and pembrolizumab for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (ALPHA Study): A phase II study with biomarker analysis

6024

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway inhibition may synergize with anti-PD1 activity by inhibiting macrophage function, increasing antigen presentation, and augmenting T cell responses. Afatinib, an irreversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has been shown to enhance anti-PD1 activity in in vitro and animal studies. We thus hypothesized that adding afatinib to pembrolizumab may improve the treatment outcomes for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: The ALPHA study (NCT03695510) is a single-arm, phase II study with a Simon 2-stage design. Patients with platinum-refractory, recurrent, or metastatic HNSCC are eligible for the study. Afatinib (40mg, oral, daily) and pembrolizumab (200mg, every 3 weeks) are administered to eligible patients. The primary endpoint is the objective response rate (ORR). PD-L1 IHC testing (22C3), comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP, Roche Foundation Medicine One CDx), and targeted multiplexed gene expression profiling (Nanostring nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel) were applied for biomarker analysis. Results: From JAN 2019 to MAR 2020, 29 patients were enrolled in the study. Age: mean = 53.4 years old; M/F = 27/2. Tumor type: oral cavity: 19; oropharynx: 6, hypopharynx: 2, larynx: 2. PD-L1 TPS > = 50: 7/29 (24.1%), CPS > = 20: 8/29 (27.6%), TMB > 10: 0/25 (0%). The common treatment-related adverse events (AEs; all grades, grade > = 3) were skin rash (22/29, 4/29), diarrhea (17/29, 3/29), paronychia (13/29, 0/29), mucositis (9/29, 1/29), and weight loss (2/29, 0/29). One patient experienced grade 2 pneumonitis. Twelve patients had partial responses to the treatment (12/29, ORR: 41.4%). The data cut-off date was 11FEB2021. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 4.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-6.3) months. The median overall survival (OS) was 8.4 (95% CI, 4.1-10.8) months. Patients with high PD-L1 expression had a higher response rate (TPS > = 50: ORR = 0.71, CPS > = 20: ORR = 0.63). EGFR amplification might also predict a higher response rate (ORR: 3/3, 100%). MTAP loss or mutation may predict a poor response to the treatment (ORR: 0/5, 0%), shorter PFS (HR: 4.21, [95% CI: 1.34-13.24], p = 0.014), and shorter OS (HR: 4.20 [95% CI: 1.32-13.41], p = 0.015). Nine patients underwent paired pre-treatment and post-treatment biopsies for gene expression analysis. The mRNA of HLA-A, HLA-B, CXCL13, CXCL9, and CD8A were elevated in the post-treatment biopsies. Three patients underwent post-progression biopsies for CGP study. One patient had a new MTAP mutation. Conclusions: Afatinib can modify tumor microenvironment and increase the clinical response rate in pembrolizumab-based therapy in HNSCC patients. PD-L1, EGFR amplification, and MTAP loss/mutation could be biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT03695510.

CD73 Is Regulated by the EGFR-ERK Signaling Pathway in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Successful therapy of EGFR-mutant NSCLC remains a challenging task despite initial benefits with the usage of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Cancer immunotherapy has shown promising results in certain tumors, but response rate in EGFR-mutant NCLC is low, because these tumors are thought to have weak immunogenicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used data from in vivo NSCLC databases as well as from in vitro cell culture experiments to investigate the regulation of CD73 by EGFR.

RESULTS

EGFR expression was correlated with CD73 expression in patients' datasets, with EGFR-mutant tumors showing higher expression than their EGFR wildtype counterparts. Treatment of EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell lines with EGFR TKI reduced expression of CD73 at both mRNA and protein level. Among EGFR downstream signaling pathways, the Ras-Raf-ERK pathway was involved in the regulation of CD73 expression directly via ERK1/2 without the engagement of RSKs or MSKs.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study may provide novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of oncogene-driven NSCLC.

A phase II trial of durvalumab (MEDI4736) and tremelimumab with chemotherapy in metastatic EGFR mutant non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following progression on EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (ILLUMINATE)

TPS9631

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have proven remarkably effective in the treatment of advanced EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, drug resistance is inevitable and outcomes with subsequent platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy are poor. The role of immune-checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy in EGFR mutant NSCLC remains uncertain with trials demonstrating inferior survival outcomes compared to chemotherapy. However, a recent randomised study with combination checkpoint inhibitor-chemotherapy demonstrated improved survival over chemotherapy alone in this patient population. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of combination dual immune-checkpoint blockade, durvalumab and tremelimumab, with platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy in metastatic EGFR mutant NSCLC following progression on EGFR-TKIs. Methods: This international phase II cohort study will recruit 100 participants from Australia and Taiwan with advanced EGFR mutant NSCLC following disease progression with EGFR-TKIs [Cohort 1 (n=50): T790M mutation negative on tissue and plasma; Cohort 2 (n=50): T790M mutation positive on tissue and/or plasma, and progression on3rd generation TKIs]. Participants will receive 4 cycles of induction durvalumab 1500mg and tremelimumab 75mg with platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy every 3 weeks, followed by maintenance durvalumab 1500mg and pemetrexed 500mg/m2 every 4 weeks until disease progression. Response will be assessed at 6 and 12 weeks, then 8-weekly during the first year, and 12-weekly thereafter. Major endpoints include objective tumour response rate (OTRR; RECIST1.1; primary), disease control rate, OTRR (iRECIST), progression-free survival, overall survival, and adverse events. Correlative studies include biomarker assessment as potential predictive/prognostic factors. ILLUMINATE is a collaboration between the Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group, National Health Research Institutes (Taiwan) and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney. As of 6/2/2020, 11 of planned 100 participants have been recruited. Clinical trial information: NCT03994393 .

Association of Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression with Fusion Variants and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Positive Lung Adenocarcinoma Receiving Crizotinib

BACKGROUND

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is associated with clinical outcomes of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, whether PD-L1 expression plays a role in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive lung ADC is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the impact of PD-L1 in patients with ALK-positive lung ADC receiving crizotinib.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PD-L1 expression was identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used for ALK variant detection, and immunofluorescence-based multiplex staining was applied for exploring immune cells in tumor microenvironments.

RESULTS

A total of 78 patients with ALK-positive advanced ADC were enrolled in our study, of whom 52 received crizotinib. Compared with EGFR/ALK wild-type tumors, PD-L1 expression was lower in ALK-positive ADC. ALK fusion variants were identified in 32 patients, and those with variant 3 and 5 (short variants) had higher PD-L1 expression than those with other variants. The crizotinib objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) was better in tumors with negative PD-L1 expression (ORR/PFS in PD-L1 0% vs. 1%-49% vs. 50%-100%: 60.7%/11.8 months vs. 38.5%/6.5 months vs. 36.4%/4.0 months, p = .007/.022). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model revealed that PD-L1 0% (vs. ≥1%) was an independent factor for longer PFS (adjusted hazard ratio 0.322, 95% confidence interval 0.160-0.650, p = .002). Multiplex IHC in three cases showed a varied extent of immune cell infiltrations in tumors with different PD-L1 expression.

CONCLUSION

Positive PD-L1 expression was associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with ALK-positive lung ADC receiving crizotinib.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Not all lung adenocarcinoma with sensitizing driver mutations experienced durable responses to small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Similar to the negative impact of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in epidermal growth factor receptor mutant tumors treated with TKIs, this study demonstrated that positive PD-L1 expression was also associated with worse response rate and shorter progression-free survival of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive adenocarcinoma treated with crizotinib. Among different ALK fusion partners, tumors with short variants (V3 and V5) had higher PD-L1 compared with long variants (V1, V2, and V6). Testing PD-L1 before initiating crizotinib for ALK-positive lung cancer could be a simple method to provide important prognostic information.

Second-line treatment of EGFR T790M-negative non-small cell lung cancer patients

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are the currently recommended treatment for advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Acquired resistance inevitably develops, with the EGFR T790M mutation comprising approximately 55% of the mechanisms of resistance following first- or second-generation EGFR-TKI therapy (e.g. gefitinib, erlotinib, afatinib, and dacomitinib). Patients without T790M are a heterogeneous group for whom platinum-based chemotherapy is currently recommended as a second-line treatment. In addition to secondary mutations in EGFR (e.g. T790M), the currently known resistance mechanisms can be classified into the following three categories: bypass pathways, downstream signaling pathways, and histologic transformations. Given the evolving knowledge and convenience of diagnosing acquired resistance mechanisms by next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsy, exploratory studies targeting these resistance mechanisms and incorporating immunotherapy into the treatment paradigm have become the mainstream of future development. This review focuses on acquired resistance mechanisms other than T790M that develop after first- or second-generation EGFR-TKI therapy. Exploratory second-line treatments targeting resistance mechanisms as well as combination immunotherapy and chemotherapy in ongoing clinical trials are reviewed here. We also highlight the recent development of next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsy in this field.

Treating brain metastases in non-small cell lung cancer patients: what have we learnt from pharmaceutical recent clinical trials?

INTRODUCTION

Brain metastases (BMs) develop in up to 40% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In many recent practice-changing clinical trials, patients with BM were included; however, only few trials reported intracranial efficacies in either post hoc or pre-planned analysis. Clinically meaningful intracranial efficacy data of novel agents have not been completely disclosed.

AREAS COVERED

The authors performed a systemic review of recent pharmaceutical clinical trials, mainly pivotal or practice-changing trials. Some of the prospective clinical trials focused on patients with NSCLC and BM. The authors collected and compared intracranial efficacy reports of chemotherapy, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), ALK inhibitors, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

EXPERT OPINION

Many clinical trials, especially those on 'brain-active' EGFR-TKIs and ALK inhibitors, have robust reports of intracranial efficacies either as post hoc or pre-planned analysis. Physicians should interpret this data with caution and apply the results to patients accordingly. For the design of future clinical trials, enrolling patients with only BM, incorporating novel risk classifications, pre-planning intracranial efficacy endpoints, reporting prior local brain therapies, and applying novel response evaluation criteria are emerging trends in this area.

Tumor PD-L1 Expression and Clinical Outcomes in Advanced-stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Nivolumab or Pembrolizumab: Real-World Data in Taiwan

Background: Immunotherapy that targets programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) provides improved treatment efficacy and survival in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially those with high tumor expression of PD-L1. However, data on this treatment are mostly from clinical trials enrolling highly selected patients. The real-world experience of anti-PD-1 treatment and the usefulness of tumor PD-L1 expression in prediction of treatment response are largely unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with stage IIIB/ IV NSCLC who received monotherapy with nivolumab or pembrolizumab, and evaluated response using RECIST 1.1 criteria. Factors associated with treatment response, progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were determined.

Results: Seventy-four NSCLC patients out of 116 examined patients were included, most of whom had adenocarcinoma (48/74, 64.9%) and received immunotherapy as a third-line or subsequent treatment (51/74, 68.9%). The median PFS and OS were 1.8 and 7.9 months, respectively. The objective response rate was 32%, but only 47 of 74 patients were evaluable. Through multivariate analysis, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation was independently associated with a poor treatment response. Good performance status (ECOG≤1) and smoking were independently associated with better PFS and OS. Data on tumor PD-L1 expression were available in 43 patients (58%); higher PD-L1 expression correlated with better treatment response and longer PFS. Severe treatment-related adverse events were uncommon.

Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 medications for advanced NSCLC were comparable in real-world and clinical settings, except in those with poor ECOG scores. Prediction of treatment response from tumor PD-L1 expression seemed practical.

Novel EGFR Inhibitors in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Current Status of Afatinib

Afatinib, a second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been approved worldwide as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that harbors activating EGFR mutations. Here, we have reviewed the recent clinical developments in the treatment of lung cancer using afatinib. Emerging data have revealed the overall survival benefit of first-line afatinib therapy in patients with advanced EGFR ^del19-positive NSCLC. Phase III studies of afatinib have shown the effectiveness of afatinib as a second-line treatment for advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma, as well as the benefit of continuing afatinib therapy in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC after the occurrence of disease progression in patients who are receiving afatinib monotherapy. Therapeutic benefits of afatinib have also been reported in studies of patients with central nervous system metastasis and patients with HER2 mutation. The utility of afatinib-based combination therapies is being investigated in ongoing research.

Optimal management of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer with disease progression on first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy

The first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), gefitinib and erlotinib, and the second-generation EGFR-TKI, afatinib, have all been approved as standard first-line treatments for advanced EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on superior progression-free survival results compared to platinum doublet chemotherapy regimens. Acquired resistance to an EGFR-TKI inevitably develops after a period of effective drug treatment. After tumor progression, many combination therapy regimens that include an EGFR-TKI, or EGFR-TKI monotherapy, have been tested in prospective trials with the aim of extending survival. Third-generation EGFR-TKIs such as osimertinib have been developed with the aim of overcoming the effects of EGFR T790M resistance mutation, which occurs in half of the patients with disease progression on EGFR-TKI therapy. Osimertinib has become the standard treatment in patients for whom tumor re-biopsy reveals an acquired EGFR T790M mutation following EGFR-TKI therapy. Other third-generation EGFR-TKIs, such as olmutinib, EGF816, and ASP8273, are still in the trial phase.

Outcomes of research biopsies in clinical trials of EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients pretreated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Research biopsies (RBs) are crucial for developing novel molecular targeted agents. However, the safety and diagnostic yields of RBs have not been investigated in EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients pretreated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

METHODS

We searched the medical records of NSCLC patients who participated in lung cancer clinical trials and underwent mandatory RBs between 2012 and 2014 at our institution. Only patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC pretreated with at least 1 EGFR-TKI were enrolled.

RESULTS

Of 140 enrolled patients, 73 (52.1%) and 59 (42.1%) had exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R mutation, respectively. Before RBs, 108 (77.1%), 83 (59.3%), and 36 (25.7%) patients had been treated with gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib, respectively. Computed tomography-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy was the most frequently used modality among 181 RBs performed (50.8%), followed by ultrasonography-guided (32.0%) and endoscopic RBs (16.0%). The most common RB sites were the lung (69.6%), pleura (8.8%), and liver (6.1%). Pathologic examinations revealed malignant cells in most RB specimens (72.9%). Complications due to RBs included pneumothorax (11.6%), bleeding (6.1%), and infection (1.1%). Only 1 patient required chest tube placement for pneumothorax, and 2 patients underwent endotracheal intubation because of bleeding.

CONCLUSION

RBs in this patient population were generally safe. Pneumothorax was the most frequent complication; bleeding, while infrequent, increased the risk of severe events. The diagnostic yields and complications of any particular modality should therefore be discussed with prospective clinical trial participants.

Cytotoxic Chemotherapy as First-Line Therapy for Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Taiwan: Daily Practice

Aim: Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the standard first-line therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without specific gene alterations. This study examined the prescription pattern and the survival outcome of cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens in daily practice in Taiwan.

Methods:We established a population-based cohort of patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC between 2005 and 2009 using the databases of Taiwan Cancer Registry and National Health Insurance in Taiwan. We then analyzed chemotherapy prescriptions and the survival outcomes of patients.

Results:A total of 25,008 patients with advanced NSCLC were identified, 17,443 (70.0%) of which received first-line chemotherapy and were therefore included in this study. Among them, 11,551 (66.2%) patients had adenocarcinoma and 3,292 (18.9%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Approximately 70% of the patients were diagnosed with NSCLC in medical centers. Platinum-based doublet chemotherapy was administered to 66.9% of the patients. Among all chemotherapy regimens, platinum with gemcitabine (33.8%) was the most common, irrespective of geographic region. The second and third most common regimens were vinorelbine alone (13.0%) and platinum with docetaxel (11.6%). The prevalence of platinum-based doublet chemotherapy regimens decreased from 71.4% in 2005 to 64.1% in 2009. Among patients with adenocarcinoma histology, those who received platinum with pemetrexed had longer OS than did patients who received other platinum-based regimens (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our findings reaffirm that in real-world practice, treatment plans of advanced NSCLC should be drawn up according to histology type.

Treating patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer: latest evidence and management strategy

Rearrangements in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene and echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4) gene were first described in a small portion of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 2007. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is used as the diagnostic test for detecting an EML4-ALK rearrangement. Crizotinib, an ALK inhibitor, is effective in treating advanced ALK-positive NSCLC, and the US Food and Drug Administration approved it for treating ALK-positive NSCLC in 2011. Several mechanisms of acquired resistance to crizotinib have recently been reported. Second-generation ALK inhibitors were designed to overcome these resistance mechanisms. Two of them, ceritinib and alectinib, were approved in 2014 for advanced ALK-positive NSCLC in the US and Japan, respectively. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors also showed activity against ALK-positive NSCLC. Here we review the recent development of crizotinib, ceritinib, alectinib and other second-generation ALK inhibitors as well as Hsp90 inhibitors. We also discuss management strategies for advanced ALK-positive NSCLC.

Comparative effectiveness of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy regimens for advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard first-line therapy for patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We compared the effectiveness of first-line chemotherapy regimens.

METHODS

We searched the database of the Taiwan Cancer Registry for patients with newly diagnosed advanced lung SCC from 2004 to 2007. Medication prescription data were retrieved from the database of National Health Insurance, Taiwan. We identified patients who received standard first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, which was defined as chemotherapy with a platinum (P) compound (cisplatin or carboplatin) in addition to 1 of the 4 chemotherapy agents, including gemcitabine (G), docetaxel (D), paclitaxel (T), and vinorelbine (V). Deaths were identified by searching the National Death Registry. Overall survival (OS) was compared between patients who underwent different therapies.

RESULTS

In total, 2790 patients were identified; 983 patients (35.2%) received standard first-line chemotherapy with P and G (58.1%), D (14.5%), T (11.6%), or V (15.8%). Older patients (age ≥ 70 years) were less likely to receive P + D than P + G, P + T, or P + V (P = .018). Patients who received P + G, P + D, P + T, or P + V had similar OS (median, 8.9, 7.9, 9.5, and 8.2 months; P = .816). In multivariate analyses adjusting for age, sex, and stage, the first-line chemotherapy regimen was not a predictor for OS. With P + G as the reference group, the adjusted hazard ratios of P + D, P + T, and P + V were 1.03, 0.90, and 1.02, respectively (P = .710).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with advanced lung SCC, various regimens did not have a significant effect on survival outcomes.