Salvage Chemotherapy Following Osimertinib in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation

Abstract

Aim: The current study reports the type of salvage chemotherapy following osimertinib and its treatment efficacy in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who acquire resistance to osimertinib.

Patients and methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data from the medical charts of 40 patients with NSCLC treated with osimertinib were obtained, primarily focusing on 14 undergoing salvage chemotherapy including epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) or cytotoxic agents immediately following osimertinib. The treatment efficacy of salvage chemotherapy was evaluated.

Results: Five and nine patients received EGFR-TKI and cytotoxic agents following osimertinib, respectively. The overall response rate to EGFR-TKI treatment following osimertinib tended to be lower than that for cytotoxic agents (0% vs. 44.4%). The median progression-free-survival was significantly poorer in patients receiving EGFR-TKI treatment than in those receiving cytotoxic agents.

Conclusion: Cytotoxic agent administration should be considered more frequently than EGFR-TKIs for patients with NSCLC resistant to osimertinib.

Keywords: EGFR gene; Non-small cell lung cancer; chemotherapy; osimertinib.