Dr. Haigentz on the Potential of Erlotinib and Bevacizumab in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC

Missak Haigentz, MD, chief of Hematology and Oncology at Morristown Medical Center and medical director of Atlantic Hematology and Oncology for Atlantic Medical Group at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, discusses the potential of erlotinib (Tarceva) and bevacizumab (Avastin) in EGFR-mutant non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

At the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting, data were presented on the combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Though there was a significant benefit in progression-free survival compared with erlotinib alone, the overall survival benefit was not as compelling. Moreover, the PFS benefit was comparable to frontline osimertinib (Tagrisso).

Although this combination may not replace osimertinib as the current standard, it does show the potential for combination therapies in the space, explains Haigentz. It gives physicians some insight in terms of potential combinations with VEGF pathway inhibition. Even if the combination does not enter the market in the United States, Haigentz notes that it may be introduced in countries where there are challenges in gaining access to second- and third-generation TKIs.