Examination of the effectiveness of local therapy for oligo‐recurrence of EGFR‐mutated NSCLC

Background The effectiveness of local therapy has been reported in patients with oligo‐recurrence of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a metachronous recurrence with a limited number of recurrences, which can be treated with local therapy. Conversely, remarkable progress has been made in systemic therapy for NSCLC with the advent of molecular targeted therapy. In particular, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are very effective in the treatment of EGFR‐mutated NSCLC. There is currently no consensus on treatment for oligo‐recurrence of EGFR‐mutated NSCLC. Methods From 2004 to 2014, 811 patients underwent complete resection for NSCLC at Kitasato University Hospital and, of these, 244 patients developed recurrence. Oligo‐recurrence was defined as the presence of two or less recurrent lesions, and 34 patients presented with EGFR‐mutated oligo‐recurrence. Results We retrospectively examined and compared the effects of EGFR‐TKIs with those of radical local therapy in patients with oligo‐recurrent EGFR‐mutated NSCLC. The five‐year post‐recurrence survival (PRS) rates of patients with EGFR‐mutated oligo‐recurrence who received radical local therapy (n = 23) and those who did not (n = 11) were 59.4 and 45.5%, respectively (p = 0.777). Multivariate analysis revealed no favorable prognostic factors associated with prolonged PRS, and radical local therapies did not improve PRS in patients with oligo‐recurrence (p = 0.551). Conclusion Radical local therapy did not affect PRS in patients with oligo‐recurrent EGFR‐mutated NSCLC. Even in cases of oligo‐recurrence, the administration of local therapy in patients with EGFR‐mutated NSCLC might be carefully considered. Radical local therapy is effective for patients with oligo‐recurrence of NSCLC, and EGFR‐TKIs are very effective for EGFR‐mutated NSCLC. In this study, radical local therapy did not affect PRS in patients with oligo‐recurrent EGFR‐mutated NSCLC. It is important to consider the administration of radical local therapy carefully even in patients with oligo‐recurrent EGFR‐mutated NSCLC.