Background

AUTHOR=Bozorgmehr Farastuk , Kazdal Daniel , Chung Inn , Kirchner Martina , Magios Nikolaus , Kriegsmann Mark , Allgäuer Michael , Klotz Laura V. , Muley Thomas , El Shafie Rami A. , Fischer Jürgen R. , Faehling Martin , Stenzinger Albrecht , Thomas Michael , Christopoulos Petros TITLE=De Novo Versus Secondary Metastatic EGFR-Mutated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.640048 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.640048 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=Background

Metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFR⁺) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can present de novo or following previous nonmetastatic disease (secondary). Potential differences between these two patient subsets are unclear at present.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed characteristics of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-treated patients with de novo vs. secondary metastatic EGFR⁺ NSCLC until December 2019 (n = 401).

Results

De novo metastatic disease was 4× more frequent than secondary (n = 83/401), but no significant differences were noted regarding age (median 66 vs. 70 years), sex (65% vs. 65% females), smoking history (67% vs. 62% never/light-smokers), and histology (both >95% adenocarcinoma). Patients with secondary metastatic disease showed a better ECOG performance status (PS 0–1 67%–32% vs. 46%–52%, p = 0.003), fewer metastatic sites (mean 1.3 vs. 2.0, p < 0.001), and less frequent brain involvement (16% vs. 28%, p = 0.022) at the time of stage IV diagnosis. Progression-free survival (PFS) under TKI (median 17 for secondary vs. 12 months for de novo, p = 0.26) and overall survival (OS, 29 vs. 25 months, respectively, p = 0.47) were comparable. EGFR alterations (55% vs. 60% exon 19 deletions), TP53 mutation rate at baseline (47% vs. 43%, n = 262), and T790M positivity at the time of TKI failure (51% vs. 56%, n = 193) were also similar. OS according to differing characteristics, e.g., presence or absence of brain metastases (19–20 or 30–31 months, respectively, p = 0.001), and ECOG PS 0 or 1 or 2 (32–34 or 20–23 or 5–7 months, respectively, p < 0.001), were almost identical for de novo and secondary metastatic disease.

Conclusions

Despite the survival advantage reported in the pre-TKI era for relapsed NSCLC, molecular features and outcome of TKI-treated metastatic EGFR⁺ tumors are currently independent of preceding nonmetastatic disease. This simplifies design of outcome studies and can assist prognostic considerations in everyday management of patients with secondary metastatic EGFR⁺ tumors.