LUX-Lung trial data for NSCLC published in Jo.Clinical Oncology

Data from the LUX-Lung clinical trial programme, investigating Giotrif/Gilotrif (afatinib)from Boehringet in patients with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), have been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. These data include results from the pivotal LUX-Lung 3 Phase III registration trial which show that afatinib delays tumour growth and improves disease-related symptoms and quality of life compared to standard chemotherapy, when used to treat patients with EGFR mutation positive NSCLC.

Data from the LUX-Lung 3 trial demonstrate superiority of afatinib over chemotherapy considered best-in-class (pemetrexed/cisplatin) in EGFR-mutation positive advanced NSCLC patients.Patients treated with afatinib lived for almost one year (progression-free survival (PFS) of 11.1 months) before their tumour started to grow again compared to just over half a year (PFS of 6.9 months) for those treated with chemotherapy. Importantly, patients taking afatinib with the most common EGFR mutations (del19 and L858R, accounting for 90% of all EGFR mutations) lived for well over a year without progression (PFS of 13.6 months) versus just over half a year (PFS of 6.9 months) for those in the comparator arm. Adverse events (AEs) in LUX-Lung 3 were as expected with EGFR inhibition, consistent with previous studies, and were predictable, manageable and reversible. The most common adverse events associated with afatinib were diarrhea and skin-related side effects, which rarely led to discontinuation of treatment.Additional data from the LUX-Lung 3 trial demonstrate patients taking afatinib also experienced an improvement in life-restricting lung cancer symptoms and a better quality of life (QoL) compared to those receiving standard chemotherapy treatment. see Yang J, Hirsh V, Schuler M, et al. Symptom Control and Quality of Life in LUX-Lung 3: A Phase III Study of Afatinib or Cisplatin/Pemetrexed in Patients With Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations. J Clin Oncol 2013;DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2012.46.1764.