Dr. Scagliotti on Treating EGFR-Mutated Tumors with Afatinib

Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD, head, Thoracic Oncology Unit, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, Italy, discusses treating epidermal growth factor receptor- (EGFR) mutated tumors with afatinib.

Scagliotti does not claim that afatinib is better or worse than a reversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). However, the LUX-Lung 3 and LUX-Lung 6 trials have shown that afatinib is better than chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with an EGFR mutation.

The high level of toxicity associated with afatinib will be tested in the LUX-Lung 7 trial, Scagliotti says, as afatinib will be compared to a reversible TKI.