Overview
Adjuvant treatment with the targeted drug osimertinib has shown significant survival benefits for patients with resectable EGFR-mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), establishing a recommended treatment duration of three years. However, real-world data on treatment persistence and the impact of early discontinuation have been limited. Using the US Flatiron Health Research Database, containing data on more than 438,000 patients with NSCLC, this study analyzed 822 resected patients who received adjuvant osimertinib. Researchers found that a substantial proportion of patients discontinued treatment early, with only an estimated 33% remaining on therapy at 36 months, which is the recommended duration. Crucially, patients who stopped treatment early faced a more than twofold higher risk of cancer recurrence or death. Among those who discontinued, nearly half had experienced an adverse event of interest.
Why this matters
This research provides critical real-world insights into treatment persistence for resected early-stage NSCLC. By demonstrating that early discontinuation of osimertinib is strongly linked to poorer outcomes, the study supports the clinical importance of proactive side-effect management and effective clinician-patient communication to support patients in completing their full, three-year recommended course of therapy.