New drug gives hope to non-small cell lung cancer patients
New drug gives hope to non-small cell lung cancer patients
17 Apr 2015AstraZeneca announced positive new data from the ongoing AURA phase 1/2 study of the non-small cell lung cancer drug, AZD9291. The drug showed significant delay in disease progression in patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor mutation positive (EGFRm), who also have the T790M resistance mutation.
AZD9291 is a once daily, selective, irreversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to target both the activating sensitizing mutation EGFRm and T790M, the genetic mutation responsible for EGFR TKI treatment resistance in up to approximately 2/3 of cases of EGFRm advanced NSCLC.
There are currently no treatments specifically approved for patients with EGFRm T790M advanced NSCLC.
Measurable antitumor efficacy
The study included 283 patients with EGFRm advanced NSCLC and acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs. The analysis of the updated data showed:
- An overall response rate of 54%
- A median progression free survival of 13.5 months.
In addition, the most common all-cause adverse events of any grade were rash and diarrhea.
A new future treatment for this type of cancer
The study’s principal investigator Dr Pasi A. Jänne MD, PhD, Director, Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School, emphasized: “there are few treatment options currently available for patients with advanced EGFRm non-small cell lung cancer who experience disease progression due to a second mutation known as T790M. Management is usually limited to chemotherapy or re-challenge with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. As the study continues to mature and the trend in progression free survival and durable clinical response is maintained, this may support the potential for AZD9291 as a future treatment option for advanced EGFRm NSCLC.”
Source: eCancer News