Lung Cancer: Targets and Therapy (Jun 2023)
The Additional Exclusions of ROS1 Fusions (In Addition to EGFR Mutation and ALK Fusions) in the Cemiplimab NSCLC FDA Indication (EMPOWER-Lung 1 and -Lung 3). Catching Up with Current Scientific View of Immunotherapy in Never-Smoker Predominant Actionable Driver Mutation Positive NSCLC?
Abstract
Danielle Brazel,1 Saihong Ignatius Ou1,2 1University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Orange, CA, 92868, USA; 2Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange, CA, 92868, USACorrespondence: Saihong Ignatius Ou, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, 200 South Manchester, Suite 400, Orange, CA, 92868, USA, Tel +1 714-456-5153, Fax +1 714-345-2242, Email [email protected]: Cemiplimab is one of seven immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) approved for the first-line (1L) treatment of advanced NSCLC in the US based on EMPOWER-Lung 1 and -Lung 3 trials. In addition to exclusion of NSCLC patients harboring EGFR mutations and ALK fusion from 1L treatment with ICIs, exclusion of ROS1 fusion is an additional unique exclusion the use of criterion for cemiplimab in the US FDA indication based on the design of the EMPOWER lung trials. We review the effectiveness of ICIs in never-smoker predominant NSCLC with driver mutations (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, HER2) and question whether exclusion of ROS1 fusion would put cemiplimab at a competitive disadvantage given the requirement for insurance to prove ROS1 fusion negativity. We further discuss whether the US FDA as a regulatory authority has the right and responsibility to harmonize the use of ICIs in these actionable driver mutations to standardize community practice for the benefit of patients and to advance the development of next-generation treatment for these driver mutations.Keywords: cemiplimab, immunotherapy, actionable driver mutation, ROS1 fusion
