This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
VIDEO: Questions remain regarding use of gene-targeted therapy for lung cancer
CHICAGO — Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, deputy director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, discusses the results of a phase 3 trial that demonstrated that gefitinib prolonged DFS compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy in patients with EGFR–positive stage II or IIIa non–small cell lung cancer.
Ramalingam expresses some concerns with the use of gefitinib (Iressa, AstraZeneca) and other EGFR-targeted therapy options.
“There are some caveats to the trial,” he told HemOnc Today. “One is that nearly 22% of the patients that were randomized to [chemotherapy] did not get any chemotherapy. That considerably, in our belief, underperforms the control arm of the trial.”
In addition, Ramalingam answers what the results might mean for patients.
“We still are not clear as to what’s the impact of EGFR inhibitors in improving cure rates,” he said.
Reference:
Wu Y-L, et al. Abstract 8500. Presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting; June 2-6, 2017; Chicago.
Disclosure: Ramalingam reports advisory board roles with AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Genentech.