1. How is EGFR-positive NSCLC different from other genetic mutations?
3. How important is it to know which type of EGFR mutation I have?
4. How do I know which targeted treatment is right for me?
5. Do I need to go to a hospital or clinic to receive treatment?
6. How will this treatment affect my daily life?
2. Why is it important to know that I have EGFR-positive NSCLC?
7. Are these drugs safe to take long-term?
8. What happens if it doesn’t work, or stops working?
FAQs About Targeted Treatments for EGFR-positive NSCLC, Answered
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9. Can EGFR-positive NSCLC be cured?
EGFR-positive NSCLC is a mutation of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene. EGFR helps cells grow. When the gene switch is stuck in the “on” position, cells can grow out of control and cause cancer, according to Eaton. Other genetic mutations involve different genes that mistakenly cause the body’s cells to grow into cancer.
There are many different forms of lung cancer, and the treatment options vary for each type. When genetic screening results show that you have EGFR-positive NSCLC, this helps your oncologist pinpoint the source of your cancer so you can receive targeted treatments that are more effective than those used in cases of NSCLC that are not EGFR-positive, Katz explains.
It’s very important to know which type of mutation you have so that you can receive the most effective treatment. Not all targeted therapies treat the same EGFR mutations. “The reason we check for these mutations is because we have different medications to target them,” says Katz.
This will depend on the results of your next-generation sequencing genetic test. Fortunately, the results should come back quickly. “When someone gets diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer and sees the oncologist for an evaluation, the oncologist would get the test during that evaluation,” Katz says, “and typically it takes about two weeks to get results.”
If you’re receiving amivantamab-vmjw treatment, then yes, you will need to go to a clinic for each IV infusion. All other treatment options are given orally, so you can take them once a day at home, though you’ll need to check in with your doctor regularly. “Once you’re settled on the medication and everything looks stable, it’s typically monthly just to check labs and make sure that you’re tolerating the medicine,” Katz says.
Fortunately, these treatments don’t tend to have a big effect on daily life, according to Eaton. Many people are still able to work and do all the things they normally do, with minimal side effects.
Through clinical trials and in the medical setting, these drugs have been shown to be safe to take until the point where the NSCLC progresses, which can be for a few years or more. You’ll also be monitored monthly to make sure your body is tolerating them. “When we put somebody on one of these medications, we’re checking in with the patients and seeing if they have any toxicity,” Katz says. “We’re checking their labs closely and monitoring the blood counts, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function.”
It’s rare to need to stop targeted treatments due to side effects; usually these can be managed. But if you get to the point where your lung cancer progresses, then you’ll likely move on to using standard chemotherapy, according to Eaton. You could also be offered the chance to enroll in a clinical trial evaluating one of many new treatments currently being evaluated.
As of now, there’s no cure for EGFR-positive NSCLC. However, these targeted treatments are currently the best option for extending life as much as possible. “I tell patients that this is a drug that we’re using to help with their quality and quantity of life,” Eaton says. “And it will have a significant impact on both.”
