Afatinib for the first-line treatment of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC in China: a review of clinical data
This article reviewed afatinib in the treatment of EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in China. The authors discussed the clinical trial and real-world data on the efficacy and tolerability of afatinib in Chinese patients and provided a comparison of the efficacy and safety of the EGFR TKIs in Chinese patients. They concluded that afatinib is an effective and tolerable first-line treatment option in Chinese patients with EGFR-mutation-positive NSCLC. It is suggested that further studies are required to determine the most appropriate sequencing of EGFR TKIs that will maximize clinical benefit in China.
This review article published in Future Oncology discusses the use of afatinib in the treatment of EGFR-mutation-positive NSCLC.
Abstract
Mutations in the EGFR gene are particularly prevalent among Chinese patients with NSCLC. Six EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors are approved for the first-line treatment of EGFR-mutation-positive NSCLC in China, which poses questions about which agent is most suitable for which patient. In this article, we review available clinical trial and real-world data with afatinib in Chinese patients. We assess its efficacy and safety in key patient subgroups such as those with uncommon mutations or brain metastases. We also consider possible subsequent therapies following afatinib. Encouragingly, available data suggest that sequential afatinib and osimertinib confer prolonged overall time to failure of almost 4 years in Asian patients and represents a viable option in this setting.