Prognostic Significance of EGFR Gene Mutation in Patients With EGFR Mutated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Who Received Best Supportive Care Alone

Abstract

Background/aim: The significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation in untreated patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains uncertain. We aimed to determine the significance of EGFR mutation in patients who received best supportive care (BSC) alone, and compare the outcomes of only EGFR- tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI)-treated vs. BSC patients.

Patients and methods: Between April 1991-August 2018, 1,197 patients diagnosed with unresectable NSCLC at our institutions were enrolled in the study.

Results: Among 226 patients who underwent EGFR mutation analysis and received BSC alone, 35 and 191 did and did not harbor the mutation, and the median survival times (MST) did not differ significantly between these groups. A comparison of only EGFR-TKI-treated and BSC patients with EGFR mutation revealed that the former had a three times longer MST than the latter.

Conclusion: Our results may help explain the benefit of EGFR-TKI for patients who would be directed towards BSC.

Keywords: Epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation; anti-tumor effects; best supportive care; non-small-cell lung cancer; prognosis.