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Oncomedicine 2017; 2:138-141. doi:10.7150/oncm.20759 This volume Cite

Review

First and Best Treatments for EGFR and PD-L1 - Competition for First Line Therapy in Adenocarcinoma

Paul Zarogoulidis¹ , Yan-Gao Man², Wolfgang Hohenforst-Schmidt³, Lonny Yarmus⁴, Haidong Huang⁵, Chong Bai⁵, Nikolaos Barbetakis⁶, Christoforos Kosmidis⁷, Chrisanthi Sardeli⁸, Theodora Kerenidi⁹, George Papatsibas¹⁰, Theodora Tsiouda¹¹

1. Pulmonary Oncology Unit, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
2. Co-Director, Laboratory of Proteomics and Protein Sciences, Veterans Affair Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA;
3. Sana Clinic Group Franken, Department of Cardiology / Pulmonology / Intensive Care / Nephrology, “Hof” Clinics, University of Erlangen, Hof, Germany;
4. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA;
5. Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, China;
6. CarbioThoracic Department, “Theageneio” Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece;
7. Surgery Department, “Interbalkan” European Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece;
8. Pharmacology-Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Clinical, Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki;
9. Respiratory and Critical Care Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi - UAE;
10. Oncology Department, University General Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessali, Larissa, Greece;
11. Pulmonary Department, “Theageneio” Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

✉ Corresponding author: Paul Zarogoulidis, M.D, Ph. D, Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Fax: 00302310992424 Mobile: 00306977271974 E-mail: pzarogcom More

Abstract

Lung cancer is still diagnosed at advanced stages since there are no blood markers or efficient prevention programs. Moreover, lack of early disease symptoms do lead patients for early diagnosis. In the past ten years novel targeted and non-targeted therapies have entered the market for advanced stage disease patients. Epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase agents are considered an excellent choice as first line treatment for adenocarcinoma. However; in the past few months PD-L1 >50% patients can be treated with immunotherapy as first line treatment. Moreover; second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors are already on the market in the case of disease relapse in EGFR and ALK positive patients. In the current mini review we will focus on current up-to-date data regarding the best choice between tkis and immunotherapy as first line treatment for adenocarcinoma.

Keywords: EGFR, ALK, PD-L1, Immunotherapy.

Introduction

In the past ten years novel therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have entered the market for non-small cell lung cancer (nsclc) adenocarcinoma patients with epidermal growth factor receptor positive (EGFR) patients and anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive patients (ALK).[1-3] Upon disease relapse there are currently treatment options, for example in the case of EGFR patients erlotinib can be administered with bevacizumab.[4] In the case where mutation T790M is detected either by new biopsy in the site of relapse or by liquid biopsy osimertinib can be administered.[5, 6] The question whether to perform re-biopsy or liquid biopsy, tissue still remains the best material in order to investigate for mutation T790M, however; the choice between the two methods is mostly based on the performance status of the patient and center diagnostic tools.[6] Regarding ALK positive patients ceritinib is used after disease relapse.[7] Immunotherapy is currently also considered as first line treatment in the case of Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) >50% with the drug pembrolizumab.[8] Until now immunotherapy was only considered an option for second line treatment with nivolumab in nsclc patients.[9] Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have recently acquired licensed and can be used as second line treatment in non-positive EFGR patients in squamus cell carcinoma.[10] Moreover; novel non-specific agents are currently with efficiency such nab-paclitaxel in nsclc.[11] However; there is an issue that has to be addressed, which therapy is considered based on current data the best choice for first line treatment in the case of nsclc adenocarnoma patient positive for EGFR or ALK and PD-L1 >50% overexpression. Current data based on keynote 024 indicate that for these patients tyrosine kinase inhibitors should be initiated.[12-14] Figure 1.

 Figure 1 

EGFR; Epidermal Growth Factor, AKT; kinase-interacting protein1, PTEN; Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 3-phosphatase, PI3K; Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases, PI 3-kinases, PI(3)Ks, RAS; Ras superfamily of proteins, which are all related in 3D structure and regulate diverse cell behaviours, RAF; Raf kinases (more avidly C-Raf than B-Raf), MAPK/ERK; extracellular signal-regulated kinases , TKI; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor, STAT; Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription. MEK; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase enzymes MEK1 and/or MEK2.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Epidermal growth factor positive patients can use three different drugs; erlotinib, gefitinib and afatinib.[15, 16] Unfortunately disease relapse occurs and treatment has to change. In the case of erlotinib the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) bevasizumab can be added in order to enhance the already administered treatment.[17] Gefitinib is the drug that has been mostly investigated along with the underlying molecular pathways that have been altered along the way of administration.[18-20] There are two treatment approaches, one could which to chemotherapy and the choice of investigating for the mutation T790M.[5, 21] The investigation of T790M can be done with re-biopsy in the site of disease relapse or with liquid biopsy.[6] Current data indicate that erlotinib plus bevasizumab can be administered to T790M positive patients with favorable results.[22] In another recently published study immunotherapy with nivolumab in EGFR positive patients, disease relapse and negative for T790M presented favorable data due to the high expression of PD-L1 levels. It has been observed that T790M positive patients have a lower PD-L1 expression.[23] Current data on tki combination and immunotherapy indicate that there is synergistic positive effect, however; increased toxicity has been observed.[24]

PD-L1

It has been observed that atezolizumab, pembrolizumab and nivolumab increase overall survival in second-line treatment of Stage III/IV squamous and non-squamous NSCLC when compared to taxane monotherapy. Keytruda increased progression-free survival in the first-line treatment of Stage IV NSCLC when >50% PD-L1 expression was observed when compared to platinum-based chemotherapy.[25] The toxicity observed was immune related as previously observed with similar checkpoint inhibitors. The use of pembrolizumab is based on the diagnostic test, Dako's IHC 22C3, to assess PD-L1 status of patients. Nowadays there are ongoing studies evaluating pembrolizumab in small-cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma.[14] First data indicate that pembrolizumab appears to be well tolerated and could be used in patients with PD-L1-positive and malignant pleural mesothelioma. However; further investigation for response durability and efficacy evaluation in this patient population is needed.[26] It has been observed that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are overall better tolerated than chemotherapy. In previously published studies PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors were associated with a lower risk of treatment-related symptoms (fatigue, nausea neutropenia, anemia), but a higher risk of immune-related adverse events (colitis, orogonitis). It has been observed that PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors are overall better tolerated than chemotherapy. [27] In lung cancer adenocarcinoma PD-L1⁺ cases convergence and cavitation were more frequently than did PD-L1^- cases. In contrast, surrounding ground glass opacities and air bronchogram were observed less frequently in PD-L1⁺ cases than in PD-L1^- cases. These observations will prove helpful in identifying PD-L1-expressing adenocarcinoma by CT before immunotherapy.[28] Combination of pembrolizumab, permetrexed and platinum analogs could be an effective and tolerable first-line treatment option for patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC. This combination is being further explored in an ongoing international, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 study.[29]

Conclusions

In the last year, novel immunotherapeutic agents aimed at the PD-1/PD-L1 axis were introduced as lung cancer treatment. The two immunotherapeutic agents greatly influenced our approach to the treatment of lung cancer in first and second line. The limited toxicity profile and the ability to treat for prolonged periods, is an excellent addition in the arsenal of the oncologist. Immune checkpoint modulation produces durable responses and overall survival benefits with less toxicity compared to the adverse effects of conventional chemotherapy.[25] However, as PD-L1 staining does not sufficiently discriminate responders from non-responders for all checkpoint inhibitors, there still is a need for a better predictive biomarker. Moreover; the efficacy and toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the elderly is unclear because current available studies involve mainly a low number of elderly patients and I/O therapies are based on the immune status of a patient. Furthermore; ongoing clinical research focuses on the development of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy in neoadjuvant and adjuvant NSCLC, since there is a gup in our knowledge for these patients.[30]

There is also much interest in using these drugs in combination with other treatment modalities including cytotoxic chemotherapies in the first-line NSCLC, other immunotherapies such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 antagonists, radiotherapy and molecularly targeted agents, including EGFR and ALK inhibitors. Concurrent treatment with radiotherapy in order to increase the effect of checkpoint inhibitors.[31] The toxicity profile of a drug is often a deciding factor in second-line setting for NSCLC.[32] It has been observed that in EGFR-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors do not improve overall survival over that with docetaxel. Moreover; there are mechanisms of acquired resistance to first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy that should be elucidated in order to have a targeted therapy selection of second-line treatment for these patients.[33] Tyrosine kinase inhibitors generate rapid response rate, however; the duration of response is modest and therefore a possible combination with checkpoint inhibitors might prove beneficial in terms of extending the duration of response or block treatment resistance.[34, 35] To date data based on keynote 024 indicate that for these patients tyrosine kinase inhibitors should be initiated.[12-14] There is the cost effect issue where TKIs are cheaper and their efficiency is well established, however; resistance is induced after 1≥ year of administration. Therefore further studies on this group of patients will elucidate the best treatment for these patients.

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

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Author contact

Corresponding author: Paul Zarogoulidis, M.D, Ph. D, Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Fax: 00302310992424 Mobile: 00306977271974 E-mail: pzarogcom

Received 2017-4-26
Accepted 2017-6-2
Published 2017-7-1

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