Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD

Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD, Head, Thoracic Oncology Unit, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, Italy, discusses toxicities related to chemotherapy and surgery in patients with lung cancer.

Pain and other toxicities vary from patient to patient, Scagliotti says, though those who undergo major surgery are likely to experience more symptoms compared to chemotherapy. Even with a molecularly-targeted therapy approach, some side effects are present. Studies with a quality of life assessment nested into the main study have enabled disease-related symptoms to vastly improve.

Skin and GI toxicities have been observed following treatment with EGFR-targeted agents, Scagliotti notes, though more with afatinib than erlotinib or gefitinib. With all of these agents though, patients are still experiencing a survival advantage.

Pain and other toxicities in patients with lung cancer vary from patient to patient, but patients who undergo major surgery experience more symptoms

Molecularly-targeted therapy studies with a quality of life assessment nested into the main study have enabled disease-related symptoms to vastly improve

Skin and GI toxicities have been observed following treatment with EGFR-targeted agents, though more with afatinib than erlotinib or gefitinib

Patients being treated with EGFR-targeted agents are still experiencing a survival advantage despite an increase in toxicity

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Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD, discusses toxicities related to chemotherapy and surgery in patients with lung cancer.

Lung Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicities

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

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.

Trials have shown that afatinib is better than chemotherapy when treating patients with EGFR mutation

The trials also showed that afatinib has a higher level of toxicity.

The LUX-Lung 7 trial will compare afatinib to a reversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD, from the University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, Italy, discusses afatinib in patients with EGFR-mutated tumors.

Afatinib in Patients With an EGFR Mutation

Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD, head of the Thoracic Oncology Unit, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, Italy, discusses recent advances in the molecular genotyping of patients with lung cancer.

In the past year, there has been an expansion in the genotyping of adenocarcinoma, Scagliotti notes. Researchers have discovered the potential to target ROS1 and BRAF in a limited number of patients with NSCLC. These markers are still the focus of ongoing research.

The appropriateness of EGFR inhibitors selectively in EGFR-mutant patients and the role of ALK inhibitors in ALK-positive patients was further supported in randomized phase III trials. Additionally, new agents have been identified to treat patients with ALK mutations, following crizotinib resistance.

Currently, only the ALK and EGFR mutations are actionable and all other types of mutations should still be considered experimental, Scagliotti adds.

Researchers have discovered the potential to target ROS1 and BRAF in a limited number of patients with NSCLC

Further evidence now supports EGFR inhibitors selectively in EGFR-mutant patients and the role of ALK inhibitors in ALK-positive patients.

New agents have been identified to treat patient with ALK mutations, following crizotinib resistance

At this point, only the ALK and EGFR mutations are actionable and all other types of mutations should still be considered experimental

Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD, from the University of Turin, discusses recent advances in the molecular genotyping of patients with lung cancer. 

Giorgio V. Scagliotti, MD, PhD | Authors

Articles

Lung Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicities

Afatinib in Patients With an EGFR Mutation

Recent Findings on Molecular Genotyping in Lung Cancer