
Opinion|Videos|April 18, 2025
Decision-Making Factors in Choosing Combination Therapies in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC
Panelists discuss how the growing role of combination therapies in EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) influences the choice between the MARIPOSA and FLAURA2 trials, considering overall survival data, multidisciplinary implementation, patient education, and their impact on first-line prescribing decisions.
Advertisement
Episodes in this series

Video content above is prompted by the following:
Comparing MARIPOSA vs FLAURA2 in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC: Implementation Guide
Key Decision Factors Between MARIPOSA and FLAURA2
- Data Maturity: MARIPOSA has a clear advantage in data generation and maturity compared with FLAURA2.
- Overall Survival (OS): MARIPOSA shows compelling OS data with an HR of 0.79 (upper confidence limit 1.02) and curves separating at later time points.
- Brain Metastases: Both regimens show promising brain activity, as follows:
- MARIPOSA demonstrates 36% of patients remain brain metastasis-free at 3 years vs only 18% with monotherapy.
- Intracranial duration of response shows stabilization until 2 years, then a clear separation of curves.
- A 6-month benefit in intracranial durability was shown with combination therapy.
Impact of OS Data on Decision-Making
- OS data strongly supports using combination therapy over monotherapy.
- Physicians emphasized using the best therapy first because there's approximately 30% attrition between therapy lines.
- The plateau in survival curves, particularly for brain metastasis prevention, is clinically meaningful.
Implementation in Practice
Multidisciplinary Approach
- Team Education: Sharing data with the entire team (including infusion nurses and patient education nurses)
- Dermatology Collaboration: Essential to have dermatologists who understand these trials
- Teleconsultation option: "I can send a picture over to my dermatologist, and he or she will send you back exactly what to do"
- Psychiatry Support: May be needed for some patients experiencing adverse effects
Patient Education
- Discussing Options: Taking time to explain the complexity of choices
- Patient-Centered Approach
- Managing Expectations: Preparation for potential adverse effects and their management
Expected Changes in Prescribing Patterns
- Movement away from single-agent osimertinib toward combination approaches
- Need for physician experience
- Recognition that with experience comes knowledge
- Opportunity to tailor treatment to individual patient needs with 2 strong options
- Real-world data will further inform optimal usage.
Future Directions
- Need for real-world prospective data collection to optimize:
- Treatment duration
- Combination strategies
- Adverse effect management
Importance of biomarker work to better understand mechanisms of brain protection
Advertisement
Related to this article

Mingjia Li, MD, discussed the limitations of current biomarkers in selecting patients with resectable NSCLC for neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy.

Matthew Lee, MD, discusses the first clinical data for BG-C477, a CEACAM5-targeting ADC, in advanced NSCLC.

Matthew Lee, MD, shares his key takeaway from the first disclosure of BG-C477 data in advanced NSCLC.

Matthew Lee, MD, discusses how confident he is that CEACAM5 expression will hold up as a biomarker for BG-C477 in NSCLC.

In the real-world CEMI-LUNG study, first-line cemiplimab produced survival and response outcomes consistent with the pivotal EMPOWER-Lung 1 trial.

Data from the phase 3 OptiTROP-Lung06 trial may support sacituzumab tirumotecan plus pembrolizumab as a new frontline option for this NSCLC population.

Data from the real-world CEMI-LUNG evaluating cemiplimab in advanced NSCLC were consistent with reports from the EMPOWER-Lung1 study.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Trending on CancerNetwork
1
Predicting Severe Immune-Related Toxicities in Lung Cancer Immunotherapy
2
Outpatient Treatment-Related Toxicity After Hospital Discharge Among Patients Receiving Lifileucel for Advanced Melanoma
3
CD19 CAR T Cell Therapy for Treatment-Refractory Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Phase 1 Trial
4
Recapping GI Cancer at ESMO 2026: Standout Data From Phase 1 to Phase 3
5

