Medlior presents the recent publication, “Indirect analysis of first-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with activating mutations in the Japanese population,” on first-line treatments of epidermal growth factor receptor mutation positive (EGFR+) non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Japanese patients. This publication further supports our previous network meta-analysis (NMA) of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI), recently published in Future Oncology.
NSCLC develops within the structural cells of the lung and makes up approximately 85% of lung cancers.1 EGFR+ NSCLC is an aggressive form of cancer, which impacts how the tumour responds to therapy. Currently, EGFR+ NSCLC is treated with several EGFR-TKI, with varying success rates.
Previous work determined that dacomitinib improved overall and progression-free survival and should therefore be considered one of the first-line treatment options for patients diagnosed with advanced EGFR+ NSCLC based on analyses of the overall population, two EGFR mutation subgroups (exon 19 deletion and exon 21 L858R mutations), and two subpopulations (Asian and non-Asian ethnicity).
EGFR+ NSCLC disproportionately impacts individuals with Asian ancestry.2 Approximately 30% of Japanese patients with NSCLC have an EGFR activating mutation. In Japanese men, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths and there remains the need for EGFR+ NSCLC specific therapies. Therefore, we present a follow-up systematic literature review and NMA which specifically investigates EGFR-TKI therapies in Japanese patients.
In support of our previous NMAs, we found that dacomitinib demonstrated a trend towards improved progression-free survival of Japanese patients with EGFR+ NSCLC. Dacomitinib should be considered a first-line treatment option for Japanese patients with EGFR+ NSCLC. This publication has been accepted in Future Oncology.
1 What Is Lung Cancer?, <https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html> (2019).
2 Hirsch, F. R. & Jr, P. A. B. EGFR testing in lung cancer is ready for prime time. The Lancet Oncology 10, P432-433 (2009).
