Afatinib Shows Promise in Treating Lung Cancer Patients After EGFR Inhibitors

Strategic Insights -

Results from a Phase IIb/III trial of the new drug afatinib in patients with lung adenocarcinoma showed that those who had already been treated with the EGFR inhibitors erlotinib or gefitinib seemed to gain further benefits in terms of progression-free survival and tumor shrinkage. Dr Vincent Miller from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York reported findings from the LUX-Lung 1 trial, where patients were randomly assigned to receive either best supportive care plus a placebo or supportive care plus afatinib. Although the trial did not achieve its primary endpoint of extending life, the results showed that patients who received afatinib saw disease progression delayed and were more likely to experience tumor shrinkage.

Key Takeaways:

  • Patients with lung adenocarcinoma who received afatinib after EGFR inhibitors erlotinib or gefitinib saw a delay in disease progression, with a median progression-free survival of 3.3 months compared to 1.1 month in the placebo group.
  • The disease control rate after 8 weeks of therapy was 58% in the afatinib arm, and 19% for the placebo arm.
  • The overall response rate was 11% in afatinib patients, compared to 0.5% for those receiving placebo plus best supportive care.
  • Afatinib induced objective regressions in 11% of patients, delayed cancer progression, and was associated with some improvement in cancer-related symptoms.
  • The lack of survival benefit may be related to the high enrichment of the trial population by EGFR mutated patients with outstanding median survival times of around 11 months in the 3rd/4th line setting.

Statistics:

  • Median overall survival was 10.78 months for patients who received supportive care plus afatinib, compared to 11.96 months for those receiving supportive care plus placebo.
  • Median progression-free survival was 3.3 months for patients administered afatinib, compared to 1.1 month in the placebo group.
  • The disease control rate after 8 weeks of therapy was 58% in the afatinib arm, and 19% for the placebo arm.
  • The overall response rate was 11% in afatinib patients, compared to 0.5% for those receiving placebo plus best supportive care.

Sources:

  • Vincent Miller, et al. (2010, ESMO). LUX-Lung 1 trial results.
  • Jean-Charles Soria, et al. (2010, Clinical Trials Week). Afatinib (BIBW2992) Shows Promise in Treating Lung Cancer Patients.
  • Clinical Trials Week editors (2010, Clinical Trials Week via NewsRx.com). Afatinib Shows Promise in Treating Lung Cancer Patients After EGFR Inhibitors.