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Cetuximab plus chemotherapy effective in NSCLC
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The addition of cetuximab to platinum-based first-line chemotherapy significantly improved outcomes in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer, according to results of a meta-analysis.
The regimen also appeared well tolerated.
The analysis included data from four randomized phase 2 and 3 trials that examined the addition of cetuximab (Erbitux, Eli Lilly) to platinum-based first-line chemotherapy in 2,018 patients with advanced NSCLC. Individual patient safety data were assessed on 1,970 patients who comprised the intention-to-treat and safety populations of the four trials.
Patients assigned to cetuximab plus chemotherapy experienced significantly longer median OS than patients assigned to chemotherapy alone (10.3 months vs. 9.4 months; HR=.88; P=.009). The combination also was associated with improved PFS (4.7 months vs. 4.5 months; HR=.90; P=.045) and overall response rate (32.2% vs. 24.4%; P<.001).
“The safety profile of chemotherapy plus cetuximab in the meta-analysis population was confirmed as manageable,” the researchers wrote. “Neither trials nor patient subgroups defined by key baseline characteristics showed significant heterogeneity for any endpoint.”
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of the researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.
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