ASCO Perspective
“Osimertinib is already the front-line standard of care for patients with EGFR-mutated advanced non–small cell lung cancer. The improvement in disease-free survival seen in this study strongly supports the use of this targeted therapy in earlier stage disease, which has a significant risk of recurrence despite surgical treatment and chemotherapy,” said ASCO Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASCO.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Treatment with targeted therapy osimertinib (Tagrisso) following surgery for localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation significantly improved disease-free survival in a phase III study. Of patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC who received osimertinib, 90% were alive at two years without the cancer recurring, compared with 44% who received a placebo. In stage II-IIIA patients, the risk of disease recurrence or death was reduced by 83% for patients treated with adjuvant osimertinib after surgery compared to placebo.
Study at a Glance
|
Focus |
Adjuvant osimertinib in patients with localized NSCLC with EGFR mutation |
|
Population |
682 patients with primary non-squamous stage IB/II/IIIA NSCLC and EGFR mutation |
|
Findings |
83% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or death in patients with stage II-IIIA disease |
|
Significance |
Establishes osimertinib as alternative front-line therapy for localized NSCLC with EGFR mutation |
Results of the multinational randomized controlled phase III ADAURA trial were compelling enough that the independent data monitoring committee recommended early unblinding. The findings come from an unplanned interim analysis to be presented as part of the virtual scientific program of the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
“This trial is a home run. It exceeded our expectations,” said lead author Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, who is the Chief of Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, and the Associate Cancer Center Director for Translational Research at Yale Cancer Center. “It’s an important advance to see a targeted therapy significantly delay disease recurrence following surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We can now treat patients earlier.”
Adjuvant chemotherapy is standard of care in patients with stage II-III NSCLC who have undergone complete tumor resection and select patients with stage IB disease; however, recurrence rates are high.
Osimertinib is a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor and is approved in the United States for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC with tumors that have EGFR mutations (exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations). Results from this trial show efficacy in the adjuvant setting for patients with earlier stage disease and the same EGFR mutations.
Patients with stage II-IIIA had an 83% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or death. Disease-free survival at 2 years was 90% with osimertinib compared with 44% with placebo in patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC with an EGFR mutation. In the overall population (stage IB-IIIA), treatment with osimertinib reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by 79% compared to placebo. Disease-free survival at 2 years was 89% with osimertinib compared with 53% with placebo. Overall survival, a secondary endpoint, was immature at the time of data analysis.
The safety profile in this study was consistent with the known safety profile of osimertinib, and the drug was generally tolerable.
About the Study
In this trial, 682 patients with primary non-squamous stage IB-IIIA NSCLC and confirmed EGFR mutation were randomized to receive adjuvant osimertinib (339 patients) or placebo (343 patients). Participants were included if they had complete resection of primary NSCLC with full recovery from surgery. Patients receiving osimertinib took 80 mg tablets once daily, for up to three years. Postoperative chemotherapy was allowed.
Baseline patient characteristics were balanced across arms. Thirty-one percent of patients in both groups had stage IB disease and 69% had stage II/IIIA disease. More patients in both groups were female — 68% and 72% in the osimertinib and placebo groups, respectively.
Funding
This study was funded by AstraZeneca
For your readers:
Understanding Targeted Therapy
Lung Cancer - Non-Small Cell
View the disclosures for the Cancer Communications Committee: https://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/files/content-files/about-asco/pdf/2020-am-ccc-disclosures.pdf
View the disclosures for Dr. Burris: https://coi.asco.org/share/UK4-3LNB/Howard%20Burris
Media Contact: Rachel Cagan
rachel.cagan@asco.org
mediateam@asco.org
For Patient Inquiries:
571-483-1780
contactus@cancer.net
ATTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY ANNUAL MEETING IS REQUESTED IN ALL COVERAGE.
###
About ASCO:
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) is committed to making a world of difference in cancer care. As the world’s leading organization of its kind, ASCO represents nearly 45,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education, and promotion of the highest-quality patient care, ASCO works to conquer cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy. Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, supports the Society by funding groundbreaking research and education across cancer’s full continuum. Learn more at www.ASCO.org, explore patient education resources at www.Cancer.Net, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.