Osimertinib for the first-line treatment of EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

In the past century, lung cancer has become one of the most prevalent malignant neoplasms. The prognosis for patients with metastatic and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was extremely pessimistic. The overall survival on standard platinum-based chemotherapy did not exceed 10 months. The treatment tactics choice, namely choice of specific chemotherapeutic regimen, was empirical. The situation has changed dramatically with the study of molecular-genetic disorders that contribute to a tumor development and targeted therapy availability. Until recently, the main approach to the treatment of patients with NSCLC with activating mutations was the use of first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), then, in the case of disease progression, the administration of next generations drugs or chemotherapy. However, this trend has been changing lately, new generation of targeted drugs have a significant advantage in time till progression, better intracranial control, a more favorable safety profile, that establish them as first-line treatment. Recent data confirms also an improvement of overall survival. This article discusses the situation in EGFR-postive NSCLC.

Keywords

• egfr tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• lung cancer
• non-small cell lung cancer
• osimertinib