First-line osimertinib significantly lengthens OS in NSCLC

Prof. Suresh Ramalingam (Emory University, Atlanta, USA) presented the final overall survival (OS) data of the FLAURA trial in the first Presidential Symposium. First-line osimertinib significantly lengthened overall survival compared with first generation EGFR TKIs (gefitinib or erlotinib) in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbouring Ex19del/L858R EGFR mutation [1].

The primary endpoint of progression free survival (PFS) was previously reported [2]. Final overall survival results were presented (58% maturity): the median OS with osimertinib was 38.6 months vs 31.8 months with first generation EGFR TKIs, with a hazard ratio of 0.799 (P=0.0462; see Table). More than half (54%) of patients in the osimertinib group were alive at 3 years compared with 44% in the standard care group.

Table. Efficacy results of the FLAURA trial



Prof. Ramalingam noted that after disease progression, 31% of patients in the control group crossed over to the osimertinib arm, representing 47% of patients in the control group that received post-study therapy. He concluded: “FLAURA met both its primary and key secondary endpoints and showed a favourable safety profile for osimertinib. The results further reinforce the clinical utility and superiority of osimertinib in the front-line setting. Based on these data, osimertinib should be the preferred front-line therapy for EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients.”

1. Ramalingam SS. ESMO Congress 2019. Abstract LBA5_PR.
2. Soria JC, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018;378:113–125.

Posted on 26 November 201918 March 2021