Bevacizumab versus Ramucirumab in EGFR-Mutated Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Real-World Observational Study

Simple Summary The addition of bevacizumab or ramucirumab to systemic therapy for EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients provides survival benefits. No study to date has compared the efficacy and safety of these two antiangiogenic therapies (AATs). This study enrolled patients with stage IIIB to IV EGFR-mutated NSCLC who were treated with first-line EGFR-TKIs between January 2014 and May 2022. The progression-free survival (PFS) of patients who received front-line AATs combined with EGFR-TKI therapy was longer than that of patients receiving later-line AATs combined with other therapies (19.6 vs. 10.0 months, p < 0.001). Bevacizumab and ramucirumab did not differ in PFS (24.1 vs. 15.7 months, p = 0.454). No difference in overall survival (OS) was observed between front-line and later-line therapy (non-reach vs. 44.0 months, p = 0.261) or between the two AATs (48.6 vs. 43.0 months, p = 0.924). The incidence of some adverse events such as bleeding and hepatitis was higher for bevacizumab than for ramucirumab but it was not significant. The effectiveness and safety of the two AATs were similar. The combination of bevacizumab or ramucirumab with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations could have survival benefits. However, no study, to date, has been conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of these two antiangiogenic therapies (AATs). Stage IIIB to IV EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients who received first-line EGFR-TKIs between January 2014 and May 2022 were enrolled. These patients were divided into two groups: those receiving bevacizumab and those receiving ramucirumab as a combination therapy in any line of treatment. Ninety-six patients were enrolled in this study's final analysis. The progression-free survival (PFS) of patients who received front-line AATs combined with EGFR-TKI therapy was longer than that of patients receiving later-line AATs combined with other therapies (19.6 vs. 10.0 months, p < 0.001). No difference in overall survival (OS) was observed between front-line and later-line therapy (non-reach vs. 44.0 months, p = 0.261). Patients who received these two different AATs did not differ in PFS (24.1 vs. 15.7 months, p = 0.454) and OS (48.6 vs. 43.0 months, p = 0.924). In addition, these two AATs showed similar frequencies of the T790M mutation (43.6% vs. 38.2%; p = 0.645). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated several AAT cycles as an independent good prognostic factor in OS. The incidence of some adverse events such as bleeding and hepatitis was higher for bevacizumab than for ramucirumab but it was not significant. Front-line AAT and EGFR-TKI combination therapy improved the PFS of stage IV EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. The effectiveness and safety of the two AATs were similar.

Automated summary

The addition of bevacizumab or ramucirumab to systemic therapy for EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer patients provides survival benefits. This study compared the efficacy and safety of these two antiangiogenic therapies and found that they were similar in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival. The effectiveness and safety of the two therapies were similar.