First-line erlotinib therapy until and beyond response evaluation criteria in solid tumors progression in asian patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation–positive non–small-cell lung cancer: The aspiration study
Mené en Asie sur 208 patients atteints d'un cancer du poumon non à petites cellules EGFR+ de stade IV, cet essai de phase II évalue l'efficacité, du point de vue de la survie sans progression, et la toxicité de l'erlotinib en traitement de première ligne (durée médiane de suivi : 11,3 mois)
Importance : Continuing molecularly targeted treatment beyond disease progression in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has appeared promising in retrospective analyses, highlighting the challenge to identify whether progression is the optimal time to switch treatment. Objective : To study the efficacy of first-line erlotinib therapy in patients with NSCLC with activating EGFR mutations and postprogression erlotinib therapy. Design, Setting, and Participants : ASPIRATION (Asian Pacific trial of Tarceva as first-line in EGFR mutation) was a phase 2, open-label, single-arm study conducted from 2011 to 2012 in 23 centers in Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand of adults with stage IV, EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC, with ECOG performance status 0 to 2. Interventions Patients received erlotinib 150 mg/d orally until disease progression, after which erlotinib therapy could be continued at patient and/or investigator discretion. Main Outcomes and Measures : The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS1; time to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours 1.1 progression or death). Secondary end points included PFS2 (time to off-erlotinib progression if erlotinib therapy was extended beyond progression at patient and/or investigator discretion), objective response rate, disease control rate, overall survival, and safety. The use of plasma-based assessment of EGFR mutations was also investigated. Results : Of 359 patients screened, 208 were enrolled. Median follow-up was 11.3 (95% CI, 10.9-13.0) months. Of the 207 intent-to-treat patients (62.3% female; median age, 60.8 [range, 28-89] y), 176 had a PFS1 event (171 progression and 5 deaths); of these, 78 discontinued and 93 continued erlotinib therapy following progression. Median PFS1 was 10.8 (95% CI, 9.2-11.1) months. Median PFS1 and PFS2 in the 93 continuing patients was 11.0 (95% CI, 9.2-11.1) and 14.1 (95% CI, 12.2-15.9) months, respectively. Median PFS1 and PFS2 was 11.0 (95% CI, 9.3-12.0) and 14.9 (95% CI, 12.2-17.2) months in patients with exon 19 deletions or L585R mutations. Overall response rate was 66.2%; disease control rate was 82.6%. Median overall survival was 31.0 months (95% CI, 27.3 months to not reached). In the safety population (n = 207) serious adverse events were reported in 27.1%, with events of at least grade 3 experienced by 50.2%. Sensitivity and specificity of plasma-based EGFR mutation analysis was 77% and 92%, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance : ASPIRATION supports the efficacy of first-line erlotinib therapy in patients with EGFR mutation–positive NSCLC and that treatment beyond progression is feasible and may delay salvage therapy in selected patients. Trial Registration : clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01310036