Afatinib in locally advanced/metastatic NSCLC harboring common EGFR mutations, after chemotherapy: a Phase IV study

AIM: The current study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of second-line afatinib in patients with EGFR mutation-positive (EGFRm+) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following chemotherapy. PATIENTS & METHODS: In this open-label, single-arm Phase IV study, patients with EGFRm+ (Del19/L858R) NSCLC who had progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy received afatinib (starting dose 40 mg/day). The primary end point was confirmed objective response. RESULTS: 60 patients received afatinib for a median duration of 11.5 months. 50% of patients had a confirmed objective response, of median duration 13.8 months. Median progression-free survival was 10.9 months. The most common treatment-related adverse events were diarrhea (72%), rash (28%) and paronychia (23%). CONCLUSION: Our data support the use of afatinib (40 mg/day) as an effective and well-tolerated second-line treatment in EGFRm+ NSCLC.