Lung Cancer Drug Tagrisso Shows Sustained Survival Benefit After 8 Years

New data presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Seoul indicates that nearly 80% of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with an EGFR mutation who received the targeted drug Tagrisso after surgery were alive after eight years. The findings, from the ADAURA study, also showed a nearly 50% reduction in the risk of death compared to patients who received a placebo.

The EGFR gene mutation is common in lung cancer, particularly among non-smokers, and drives tumor growth. While surgery aims to remove the visible tumor, microscopic cancer cells can remain, leading to recurrence. Adjuvant therapy, like Tagrisso, targets these residual cells to prevent the disease from returning.

The ADAURA study involved 682 patients whose tumors were surgically removed. Participants received either Tagrisso for up to three years or a placebo. Previous analyses showed Tagrisso significantly reduced the risk of recurrence. The latest eight-year follow-up confirms this benefit is sustained and translates into improved survival.

Specifically, 74% of patients on Tagrisso survived eight years, compared to 58% in the placebo group, a difference of 16 percentage points. This gap widened over time, suggesting the drug's effect is not merely delaying recurrence but potentially increasing cure rates. The drug's ability to penetrate the central nervous system is also noted as important for lung cancer with EGFR mutations, as the brain is a common site for metastasis.

Professor Alona Zer-Kokh of Rambam Health Care Campus commented that the widening survival gap is significant and encouraging, raising questions about extending treatment duration beyond three years and potentially using it for earlier disease stages. Tagrisso is already available in Israel through the national health basket for eligible patients with early-stage NSCLC and EGFR mutations post-surgery.