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INTRODUCTION: Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI)-sensitizing and -resistance mutations may be detected in plasma via circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). ctDNA level changes reflect alterations in tumor burden and could be a dynamic indicator of treatment effect. This analysis aimed to determine whether longitudinal EGFR-mutation ctDNA testing could detect progressive disease (PD) before radiologic detection. METHODS: This was a retrospective, exploratory ctDNA analysis in two phase 3 trials (FLAURA, NCT02296125; AURA3, NCT02151981). Patients had treatment-naïve (FLAURA) or EGFR-TKI pre-treated (AURA3) advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations and on-study PD (RECIST), with a baseline ctDNA result and EGFR-mutation ctDNA monitoring beyond Cycle 3 Day 1. Patients received osimertinib versus comparator EGFR-TKIs (FLAURA) or chemotherapy (AURA3). Outcomes included time from ctDNA PD to RECIST PD, and to first subsequent treatment (FST; FLAURA only). RESULTS: ctDNA PD preceded/co-occurred with RECIST-defined PD in 93/146 (64%) patients in FLAURA and 82/146 (56%) in AURA3. Median time from ctDNA PD to RECIST-defined PD (months) was 3.4 and 2.6 in the osimertinib and comparator EGFR-TKI arms (FLAURA) and 2.8 and 1.5 in the osimertinib and chemotherapy arms (AURA3). In FLAURA, median time from ctDNA PD to FST (months) was 6.0 and 4.7 in the osimertinib (n = 51) and comparator EGFR-TKI arms (n = 70). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced NSCLC receiving EGFR-TKI or chemotherapy with ctDNA data and RECIST-defined PD, ctDNA PD preceded/co-occurred with RECIST-defined PD in approximately 60% of cases. Longitudinal ctDNA monitoring may detect PD before radiologic PD.
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The year 2024 is the 20th anniversary of the discovery of activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since then, tremendous advances have been made in the treatment of NSCLC based on this discovery. Some of these studies have led to seismic changes in the concept of oncology research and spurred treatment advances beyond NSCLC, leading to a current true era of precision oncology for all solid tumors. We now routinely molecularly profile all tumor types and even plasma samples of patients with NSCLC for multiple actionable driver mutations, independent of patient clinical characteristics nor is profiling limited to the advanced incurable stage. We are increasingly monitoring treatment responses and detecting resistance to targeted therapy by using plasma genotyping. Furthermore, we are now profiling early-stage NSCLC for appropriate adjuvant targeted treatment leading to an eventual potential "cure" in early-stage EGFR+ NSCLC which have societal implication on implementing lung cancer screening in never-smokers as most EGFR+ NSCLC patients are never-smokers. All these advances were unfathomable in 2004 when the five papers that described "discoveries" of activating EGFR mutations (del19, L858R, exon 20 insertions, and "uncommon" mutations) were published. To commemorate this 20th anniversary, we assembled a global panel of thoracic medical oncology experts to select the top 20 papers (publications or congress presentation) from the 20 years since this seminal discovery with December 31, 2023 as the cutoff date for inclusion of papers to be voted on. Papers ranked 21 to 30 were considered "honorable mention" and also annotated. Our objective is that these 30 papers with their annotations about their impact and even all the ranked papers will serve as "syllabus" for the education of future thoracic oncology trainees. Finally, we mentioned potential practice-changing clinical trials to be reported. One of them, LAURA was published online on June 2, 2024 was not included in the list of papers to be voted on but will surely be highly ranked if this consensus survery is performed again on the 25th anniversay of the discovery EGFR mutations (i.e. top 25 papers on the 25 years since the discovery of activating EGFR mutations).
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INTRODUCTION: There is limited literature on the prevalence of EGFR mutations in early stage NSCLC. EARLY-EGFR (NCT04742192), a cross-sectional study, determined the prevalence of EGFR mutations in early stage NSCLC. METHODS: This noninterventional, real-world study enrolled consecutive patients with resected stages IA to IIIB (American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition) NSCLC from 14 countries across Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. The primary end point was prevalence of EGFR mutations and secondary end points included prevalence of EGFR mutation subtypes and treatment patterns. RESULTS: Of 601 patients (median [range] age: 62.0 [30.0-86.0] y) enrolled, 52.7% were females and 64.2% were nonsmokers. Most had stages IA to IB NSCLC (64.1%) and adenocarcinoma (98.7%). Overall prevalence of EGFR mutations was 51.0%; most reported exon 19 deletions (48.5%) followed by exon 21 L858R mutations (34.0%). Women had a higher EGFR mutation rate than men (64.0% versus 36.4%). Compared with no EGFR mutations, patients with EGFR mutations were more likely to be nonsmokers (35.1% versus 60.9%) and have stage I NSCLC than stages II and III NSCLC (54.8% versus 47.3% and 35.6%). Systemic adjuvant therapy was planned in 33.8% of the patients with stages IB to IIIB disease and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in 6.8%. Age above or equal to 60 years, females, and Asians were found to have a significantly (p < 0.05) higher odds of EGFR mutations, whereas smoking history and stage III disease had lower odds of EGFR mutations. CONCLUSIONS: The EARLY-EGFR study provides an overview of EGFR mutations and subtype prevalence in patients with early stage NSCLC. The study highlights the limited adherence to treatment guidelines suggesting an unmet need for improved adjuvant therapy.
