Neoadjuvant EGFR-TKI Therapy for EGFR-Mutant NSCLC in Traditionally Unresectable Patients

Introduction: Advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations may have benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). However, the role of multidisciplinary management including neoadjuvant TKI therapy and thoracic surgery is uncertain. This study assessed the possible impact of neoadjuvant TKI therapy and thoracic surgery in selected advanced stage patients. Methods: Advanced stage of IIIB and IVA NSCLC patients were retrospectively reviewed from 2010 to 2013. Patients with EGFR mutations who received neoadjuvant TKI followed by surgical resection were included. All patients were followed up for 5 years or until death. Results: There were total 15 advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma patients in the study. 8 patients were stage IIIB and 7 were stage IVA. All tumor sizes significantly decreased after neoadjuvant TKI therapy ( p value = 0.0002). 11 patients received adjuvant TKI therapy after surgical resection and others received adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Progression-free survival was superior in the group of adjuvant TKI therapy than in the group of adjuvant chemotherapy (median 14 months versus 5.9 months, p value = 0.016). Overall survival (OS) was not different between two groups ( p value = 0.755). In the group of adjuvant TKI therapy, median OS in patients harboring exon 19 deletion and exon 21 L858R was 60 months and 44.9 months, respectively ( p value = 0.078). Conclusion: TKI may decrease the size of EGFR mutation lung adenocarcinoma. A multidisciplinary management including neoadjuvant TKI therapy and thoracic surgery may be discussed in selected advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma.