Egfr Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for <i>EGFR</i> Mutation-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Outcomes in Asian Populations
Edward S. Kim, Barbara Melosky, Keunchil Park, Nobuyuki Yamamoto, James Chih‐Hsin Yang
Abstract
mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer. In this narrative review, we have collated available data from prospective studies that have assessed first-, second- and third-generation EGFR TKIs in Asian populations, including subanalyses in individual countries (China and Japan). These data indicate that outcomes with first- and second-generation TKIs are broadly similar in Asian and non-Asian populations. However, while the third-generation EGFR TKI, osimertinib, confers significant overall survival benefit over erlotinib/gefitinib in non-Asians, this is not apparent in Asians, particularly in countries like Japan with well-resourced healthcare. Head-to-head comparisons of second- and third-generation EGFR TKIs, with OS as a primary end point, should be considered in Asia.