Continuation of osimertinib in EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer patients bearing CNS metastasis (EPONA study)

Future Oncol. 2023 Jul;19(22):1515-1521. doi: 10.2217/fon-2022-1128. Epub 2023 Aug 14.

Abstract

The patients harboring EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer, treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor will lead to longer survival than those having non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient who do not harbor EGFR mutations. This ongoing clinical trial is to investigate the secondary chemoprevention effect of osimertinib from CNS with platinum doublets chemotherapy in patients who had progressive disease outside of CNS lesions. The aim of this randomized, phase II trial is to evaluate platinum and pemetrexed chemotherapy followed by pemetrexed maintenance with or without continuation of osimertinib for secondary CNS prevention in patients with brain metastatic NSCLC with EGFR mutation, with other than CNS lesions, but no progressive disease in the CNS lesion after osimertinib. The primary end point is to assess progression-free survival by investigator assessment. The key secondary end points are overall survival, response rate, time to CNS controlling, time to whole-brain irradiation and safety. Clinical trial registration: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT), Japan (jRCTs071200029).

Keywords: CNS; EGFR mutation; brain metastasis; intergroup study; non-small-cell lung cancer; osimertinib.

Plain language summary

The authors are conducting a clinical trial aimed at improving treatment for individuals diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer, a specific type of lung cancer. In some cases, this cancer can spread to the brain. This study focuses on patients whose cancer is stable in the brain but progressing in other parts of the body. The study is comparing two different treatment approaches. One involves a combination of two drugs, platinum and pemetrexed, while the other combines these drugs with a third one called osimertinib. The main objective is to determine if continuing osimertinib treatment benefits these patients. The authors are evaluating the time it takes for the cancer to start growing again, known as progression-free survival, to identify the most effective treatment. Progression-free survival represents the duration that patients live without their disease worsening. This study, the EPONA study, will provide valuable insights into optimizing the treatment of this type of cancer.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / genetics
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Central Nervous System Neoplasms* / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Pemetrexed
  • Platinum
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects

Substances

  • Pemetrexed
  • osimertinib
  • Platinum
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • EGFR protein, human