Villaruz on the Benefit of Adagrasib in KRAS G12C-Mutated NSCLC

Liza C. Villaruz, MD, medical oncologist/hematologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, discusses what research in the KRAS G12C-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) space has appeared to be most promising in recent years.

According to Villaruz, adagrasib (Krazati) has demonstrated encouraging results in this patient population. Adagrasib works by targeting the mutated KRAS protein. The agent then inhibits its ability to promote abnormal cancer cell growth.

Adagrasib previously obtained approval from the FDA in December 2022 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC who have not responded to standard systemic therapy. This regulatory decision was supported by results of the multicenter, single-arm, open-label KRYSTAL-1 trial (NCT03785249) in which adagrasib generated positive clinical activity in this patient population.

Villaruz notes that while similar to another direct inhibitor of KRAS G12C, sotorasib (Lumakras), the option of another treatment that is available for patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC is important and will only help improve outcomes for patients. Moving forward, she suggests research will evaluate the ways in which adagrasib can be given in combination with other therapies to lessen resistance to the agent.

Transcription:

0:10 | Adagrasib is an encouraging drug. It is a direct inhibitor of KRAS G12C, and it has activity that is somewhat similar to sotorasib. What is encouraging is that it looks as though it has a fair amount of central nervous system activity, which is quite nice. I think that it is another promising agent, [and] it is good to have another drug within our toolbox to treat KRAS G12C-mutated non­–small cell lung cancer.

0:44 | I think the important thing to look forward to in the future is knowing ways in which tumors can become resistant to adagrasib, and ways in which we can combine that adagrasib with other drugs to lessen that resistance.