Dr. Burns on the Promise of Combination Regimens in EGFR Exon 20 Insertion+ and KRAS+ NSCLC

Timothy F. Burns, MD, PhD, medical oncologist, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, associate professor of medicine, associate program director, Research, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, University of Pittsburgh, discusses the promise of combination regimens for patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion– and KRAS G12C–mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Although the approvals of targeted agents for patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion– and KRAS G12C–mutated NSCLC advanced the lung cancer paradigm, most patients will progress on these agents. This underscores the need for improved options in these patient subtypes, Burns explains.

As such, it will be important to understand mechanisms of resistance to targeted agents and tease out the optimal way to treat patients who develop resistance. Combining targeted therapy with chemotherapy or immunotherapy could offer improved strategies vs single-agent targeted therapy, Burns says. Additionally, targeting pathways, such as VEGF, as well as developing novel monoclonal antibodies could be beneficial in this patient population.

Finally, although challenges with toxicity could arise, combining targeted therapies with other agents could improve upon response rates and avoid acquired resistance, Burns concludes.