Effectiveness and safety of Osimertinib on non-small cell lung cancer therapy

Abstract

Lung cancer is a disease causing millions of deaths around the globe without adequate means of medical treatment. As one subtype of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involves mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is commonly treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Yet, cancer cells adapt and resist rapidly to TKIs and constant updates are required. Osimertinib (AZD9291) is the latest generation of EGFR-TKI designed to inhibit EGFR mutation and T790M, a second-site genetic mutation responsible for EGFR-TKI resistance. Nearly two-thirds of NSCLC patients who are EGFR mutation-positive and experience resistance after being treated with an EGFR-TKI develop the T790M mutation, for which there have been limited treatment options. Osimertinib arises as a potent drug against metastatic EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC. Osimertinib has undergone an elevated FDA approval process to the market. This review summarizes clinical trials of different phases to illustrate the effectiveness of Osimertinib against NSCLC, as well as variable mutations in Osimertinib resistant patients. Further studies are required to address Osimertinib’s toxicity as well as treatments against resistance to Osimertinib.