Villaruz Discusses Updates in Biomarker-Driven Lung Cancer

Liza C. Villaruz, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, discusses the latest areas of growth in the non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) space.

Currently, amivantamab-vmjw (Rybrevant) and mobocertinib (Exkivity) are the 2 FDA-approved therapies for the treatment of patients with NSCLC and an EGFR exon 20 insertion alteration. Mobocertinib is an EGFR/HER2 exon 20 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and amivantamab is an EGFR c-MET bispecific antibody.

Having effective targeted therapies for this patient population, specifically in the KRAS G12C space, has been an unmet need over previous years and with the FDA’s approval of these 2 therapies, mobocertinib and amivantamab, they have allowed for major advancements in the field, according to Villaruz. However, these mutations still represent an unmet need in the NSCLC setting and more research along with new promising agents are needed for patients with this disease.

Transcription:

0:08 | I think that the greatest area of growth within the recent, past years has been within areas of oncogene-driven non–small cell lung cancer in particular and specific subsets. There have been a lot of developments in the last couple of years in the smaller subsets of EGFR-mutant disease, such as the EGFR exon 20 insertions, where we now now have 2 approved agents, mobocertinib and amivantamab, which are very promising agents in previously treated patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion-positive tumors.

0:48 | In addition to that, there has been a lot of activity, specifically in the KRAS G12C non–small cell lung cancer space. This is particularly important, as this has historically, over the course of several decades, been an incredible unmet need. It's in a significant proportion of our patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer and to have effective targeted therapies specifically in the KRAS G12C space is really a major advancement.