Concurrent EGFR-TKI and Thoracic Radiotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring EGFR Active Mutations

Lessons Learned This single-arm, phase II study shows that concurrent EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor plus thoracic radiotherapy as the first-line treatment for stage IV non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR active mutations provides long-term control for the primary lung lesion, and 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate and median PFS are numerically higher than those of the erlotinib monotherapy. Serious adverse events are acceptable, although grade >3 radiation pneumonitis occurred in 20% of patients. Background Studies show effective local control by EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined with radiotherapy at metastatic sites in advanced lung cancer harboring EGFR active mutations. Salvage local radiotherapy is associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) in local disease during EGFR-TKI treatment. However, no prospective study has been reported on concurrent EGFR-TKI and radiotherapy for primary lung lesions. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of first-line EGFR-TKI combined with thoracic radiotherapy in treating stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR active mutations. Methods We conducted a single-arm, phase II clinical trial. Each patient received EGFR-TKI (erlotinib 150 mg or gefitinib 250 mg per day) plus thoracic radiotherapy (54-60 Gy/27-30 F/5.5-6 w) within 2 weeks of beginning EGFR-TKI therapy until either disease progression or intolerable adverse events (AEs) appeared. Results From January 2015 to March 2018, 401 patients were screened, and 10 patients (5 male and 5 female) were eligible. These patients had a median age of 55 years (40-75) and median follow-up of 19.8 months (5.8-34). The 1-year PFS rate was 57.1%, median PFS was 13 months, and median time to progression of irradiated lesion (iTTP) was 20.5 months. Objective response rate (ORR), was 50% and disease control rate (DCR) was 100%. The most common grade >= 3 AEs were radiation pneumonitis (20%) and rash (10%). One patient died after rejecting treatment for pneumonitis. The others received a full, systematic course of glucocorticoid therapy. Pneumonitis was all well controlled and did not relapse. Conclusion Concurrent EGFR-TKI plus thoracic radiotherapy as the first-line treatment for stage IV NSCLC harboring EGFR active mutations shows a long-term control of primary lung lesion. The 1-year PFS rate and median PFS of this combined therapy are numerically higher than those of the erlotinib monotherapy. The risk of serious adverse events is acceptable.