Overview

Afatinib, a first-in-class irreversible ErbB family blocker, is a 1st line treatment option for patients with advanced stage NSCLC harbouring sensitizing EGFR mutations. In randomized 1st line studies of afatinib at a standard dose of 40 mg daily versus standard of care, 28-53% of patients required a dose reduction due to adverse events (AE) induced by afatinib. The most common AEs are cutaneous and gastrointestinal (diarrhoea, dysphagia, and mucositis). Prevalence of diarrhoea in patients receiving 40 mg of afatinib, in 1st line phase II and III studies is as high as 90.0% (all grades of diarrhoea) and 14.4% (grade 3-4 diarrhoea). Another important gastrointestinal AE is mucositis, which presents in 51.9%-64.4% of patients treated with afatinib, with only 4.4%-8.3% of the cases being grade 3-4. Dose reduction tended to occur in patients who had higher initial afatinib plasma concentrations and led to decreases in the incidence and severity of afatinib-related AEs without affecting therapeutic efficacy. The incidence of gastrointestinal AEs could be decreased >50% with proper afatinib dose reduction.

The effect of 1st line afatinib 30 mg daily in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC is unknown. We hypothesize that, in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC, 1st line afatinib treatment at 30 mg daily is tolerable with less gastrointestinal AEs and with a similar efficacy to standard dose afatinib.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥18 years.
2. ECOG performance status 0-1.
3. Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of Stage IIIB/IV adenocarcinoma of the lung.
4. Have been commenced on first line afatinib 30 mg within 4 weeks of study enrolment.
5. Documented EGFR mutation(s)-positive NSCLC (common mutations: Del19 and L858R) from tumour biopsy material. Results of EGFR mutation test must be available before taking Afatinib.
6. A CT thorax/ abdomen within 4 weeks of study enrolment with at least one measurable lesion according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) version 1.1.
7. No brain metastases (confirmed by a CT or MRI brain performed within 4 weeks of study enrolment)
8. Documented adequate organ function before taking Afatinib:
   • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1500/mm3. (ANC >1000/mm3 may be considered in special circumstances such as benign cyclical neutropenia as judged by the Investigator and in discussion with the sponsor-Investigator).
   • Platelet count ≥75,000/mm3.
   • Estimated creatinine clearance using Cockcroft Gault calculation of at least 45 ml/min.
   • Total Bilirubin ≤1.5 times upper limit of (institutional/central) normal (Patients with Gilbert's syndrome total bilirubin must be ≤4 times institutional upper limit of normal).
   • Aspartate amino transferase (AST) or alanine amino transferase (ALT) ≤3 times the upper limit of (institutional/central) normal (ULN) (if related to liver metastases ≤5 times ULN).
9. Archived tissue sample is available.
10. Written informed consent per regulations.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior chemotherapy for Stage IIIB/IV adenocarcinoma of the lung. Neo-/adjuvant chemotherapy, CT-RT or RT is permitted if it has been elapsed for =12 months prior to disease progression.
2. Prior treatment with EGFR targeting small molecules or antibodies.
3. Major surgery within 4 weeks of study treatment.
4. Brain metastases.
5. Meningeal carcinomatosis.
6. Known pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD).
7. Patients with a significant disease other than lung cancer; a significant disease is defined as a disease which, in the opinion of the investigator, may:
   • put the patient at risk because of participation in the study
   • influence the results of the study
   • cause concern regarding the patient's ability to participate in the study.