Gefitinib Alone Versus Gefitinib Plus Chemotherapy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With Mutated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor: NEJ009 Study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy is highly effective for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations; however, little is known about the efficacy and safety of this combination compared with that of standard therapy with EGFR- tyrosine kinase inhibitors alone.

METHODS:

We randomly assigned 345 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic NSCLC with EGFR mutations to gefitinib combined with carboplatin plus pemetrexed or gefitinib alone. Progression-free survival (PFS), PFS2, and overall survival (OS) were sequentially analyzed as primary end points according to a hierarchical sequential testing method. Secondary end points were objective response rate (ORR), safety, and quality of life.

RESULTS:

The combination group demonstrated a better ORR and PFS than the gefitinib group (ORR, 84% v 67% [P < .001]; PFS, 20.9 v 11.9 months; hazard ratio for death or disease progression, 0.490 [P < .001]), although PFS2 was not significantly different (20.9 v 18.0 months; P = .092). Median OS in the combination group was also significantly longer than in the gefitinib group (50.9 v 38.8 months; hazard ratio for death, 0.722; P = .021). The rate of grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events, such as hematologic toxicities, in the combination group was higher than in the gefitinib group (65.3% v 31.0%); there were no differences in quality of life. One treatment-related death was observed in the combination group.

CONCLUSION:

Compared with gefitinib alone, gefitinib combined with carboplatin plus pemetrexed improved PFS in patients with untreated advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutations with an acceptable toxicity profile, although its OS benefit requires further validation.

• Authors: Yukio Hosomi, Satoshi Morita, Shunichi Sugawara, Terufumi Kato, Tatsuro Fukuhara, Akihiko Gemma, Kazuhisa Takahashi, Yuka Fujita, Toshiyuki Harada, Koichi Minato, Kei Takamura, Koichi Hagiwara, Kunihiko Kobayashi, Toshihiro Nukiwa, Akira Inoue, North-East Japan Study Group
• Journal: Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (J Clin Oncol) Vol. 38 Issue 2 Pg. 115-123 (01 10 2020) ISSN: 1527-7755 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31682542 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Protein Kinase Inhibitors
• Pemetrexed
• Carboplatin
• EGFR protein, human
• ErbB Receptors
• Gefitinib

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Carboplatin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, enzymology, genetics)
• ErbB Receptors (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics)
• Female
• Gefitinib (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, genetics)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mutation
• Pemetrexed (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Progression-Free Survival
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Quality of Life
• Survival Rate