Meta-Analysis of EGFR Kinase Inhibitors: Not Always Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
A partir de données portant sur 23 essais randomisés ayant inclus un total de 14 570 patients atteints d'un cancer avancé du poumon non à petites cellules, cette méta-analyse évalue, du point de vue de la survie sans progression et de la survie globale, l'efficacité de traitements à base d'inhibiteurs de l'activité tyrosine kinase du récepteur EGFR, en fonction de la présence ou de l'absence de mutations du gène EGFR
In contrast with the quote attributed to Aristotle, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” the meta-analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) by Lee et al. (1) in this issue of the Journal adds incrementally to the existing scientific literature. The impact of EGFR TKIs vs chemotherapy as initial therapy for patients with sensitizing EGFR mutations has been consistent, and the important clinical issues have been covered extensively by both the original articles and two recent meta-analyses (2,3). Since the submission of the article, additional published information gives further insight into the use of EGFR TKIs as initial therapy in patients who have not been selected by genotype compared with those given initial chemotherapy (4). Lee and colleagues have otherwise provided additional information about the use of EGFR TKIs in patients treated in the second- or third-line setting and with maintenance therapy.