Afatinib for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic EGFR-positive NSCLC: a look at the data.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are detected in about 10-15% of Caucasian and 30-40% of Asian patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In patients harbouring EGFR mutations, the treatment with different available EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) showed to be more effective and safe than platinum-based chemotherapy regimens. Areas covered: The current evidences about the role of afatinib for patients with EGFR-positive NSCLC are reviewed and discussed. We report a review based on a MEDLINE/PubMed, searched for randomized phase II or III trials evaluating afatinib in EGFR-positive NSCLC. Expert commentary: Afatinib is the third EGFR TKI approved for the treatment of NSCLC harbouring EGFR mutations, showing high efficacy in this setting of patients.
a Division of Thoracic Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.
Antonio
A
Passaro
a Division of Thoracic Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.
Alessia
A
Pochesci
a Division of Thoracic Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.
Gianluca
G
Spitaleri
a Division of Thoracic Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.
Chiara
C
Catania
a Division of Thoracic Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.
Cristina
C
Noberasco
a Division of Thoracic Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.
Ester
E
Del Signore
a Division of Thoracic Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.
Filippo
F
de Marinis
EGFR; LUX-Lung 7; NSCLC; TKI; afatinib; dose reduction; lung cancer; tyrosine kinase inhibitor; uncommon mutation