ABSTRACT
First-generation EGFR-TKIs (gefitinib/erlotinib) and second-generation EGFR-TKI (afatinib) have become the current first-line treatments for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, the effects of using second-generation EGFR-TKIs compared to those of using first-generation EGFR-TKIs as a first-line treatment for NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations remain unknown. We conducted this meta-analysis based on 4 retrospective and 2 randomized controlled studies published between 2016 and 2018. We surveyed the effectiveness of afatinib/dacomitinib and gefitinib/erlotinib as first-line treatments for stage III-IV EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. The combined hazard ratio (HR) for the progression free survival (PFS) of second-generation EGFR-TKI group versus that first-generation drug group was 0.64 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.55-0.74; P<0.001], demonstrating a superior PFS in the second-generation group. This outcome coincided with the subgroup analyses comparing the PFS of patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion (HR = 0.68 [95% CI 0.55-0.83; P = 0.0002]) or L858R mutation (HR = 0.64 [95% CI 0.51-0.81; p=0.0002]). Meanwhile, second-generation drugs could to significantly improve the time to progression (TTFs) compared to first-generation drugs (HR = 0.81 [95% CI 0.67-0.89; P = 0.03]). Afatinib and dacomitinib may be the superior first-line treatment for advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations.
