Abstract
Many earlier phase 3 studies showed a benefit of 1st and 2nd generation of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (afatinib, erlotinib and gefitinib) in patients with sensitive EGFR mutations by comparison with platinum doublets. Direct comparison of these drugs in the first line of treatment has not yet taken place.
It was published just a few meta-analysis, according to which it seems their effectiveness is similar. This lack crashed LUX-LUNG 7 trial.
It is an open randomized exploratory phase 2B study comparing afatinib with gefitinib in first-line patients with advanced lung cancer with frequent sensitive EGFR mutations. The study showed a difference in PFS (especially HR reached significant levels), while the number of patients with treatment discontinuation due to adverse events was similar (6%).
However, it should be noted that it was not classical superior study. Therefore, the results should be confirmed in phase III study.