Afatinib as First-line Treatment of Older Patients With EGFR Mutation-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Subgroup Analyses of the LUX-Lung 3, LUX-Lung 6, and LUX-Lung 7 Trials

There are limited data on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors in older patients. In these subanalyses of the LUX-Lung 3, 6, and 7 trials, the efficacy of first-line afatinib in older patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer was consistent with the overall study populations, with no unexpected safety signals. Progression-free survival was improved versus platinum-doublet chemotherapy (LUX-Lung 3/6) or gefitinib (LUX-Lung 7). Afatinib is approved in the US, Europe, and several other regions for first-line treatment for epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-positive (EGFRm+) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Treatment-naive patients with advanced EGFRm+ NSCLC were randomized to afatinib (40 mg/d) versus cisplatin/pemetrexed (LUX-Lung 3 [LL3]) or cisplatin/gemcitabine (LUX-Lung 6 [LL6]), or versus gefitinib (250 mg/d; LUX-Lung 7 [LL7]). We report subgroup analyses according to age, including 65 years or older versus younger than 65 years (preplanned; LL3/LL6) and additional cutoffs up to 75 years and older (exploratory; LL7). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. Among the 134 of 345 (39%) and 86 of 364 (24%) patients aged 65 years and older in LL3 and LL6, median PFS was improved with afatinib versus chemotherapy (LL3: hazard ratio [HR], 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39-1.03]; LL6: HR, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.07-0.39]). Afatinib significantly improved OS versus chemotherapy in elderly patients with Del19+ NSCLC in LL3 (HR, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.19-0.80]). Among the 40 of 319 patients (13%) aged 75 years or older in LL7, median PFS (HR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.33-1.44]) favored afatinib, consistent with the overall population. Afatinib-associated AEs in older patients were consistent with the overall populations. Subgroup analyses of the LL3, LL6, and LL7 trials show that afatinib is an effective and tolerable treatment for patients with EGFRm+ NSCLC, independent of age.