Welcome to your winter newsletter from the EGFR Patient Gateway—your place for the latest information about EGFR-positive lung cancer.
Driver mutations in the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene can be important for the growth and development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By treating patients with drugs designed to specifically target these mutations (called tyrosine kinase inhibitors or TKIs) we can slow down or stop cancer growth. However, the cancers often learn to evade treatment and begin to grow again.
Combining different types of treatment can offer additional benefits for patients. Researchers are working to develop ways to improve the initial treatment of EGFR-positive NSCLC. One clinical trial, called FLAURA2, studied the benefit of adding chemotherapy to a TKI (osimertinib) as the initial treatment. The results were exciting. Patients who received the combination lived an average of 47.5 months compared to 37.6 months for those who received osimertinib alone. While the combination may not be optimal for every patient, these results suggest that adding chemotherapy to initial treatments may extend survival for some people.
Work is also ongoing to develop subsequent lines of treatment for patients once the tumor begins to grow again. The OptiTROP-LUNG04 clinical trial compared chemotherapy to an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) called sacituzumab tirumotecan (or Sac-TMT) in patients with EGFR-positive NSCLC whose cancers had begun to grow during treatment with an EGFR-targeted TKI.
The ADC treatment performed well, holding cancer at bay for an average of 8.3 months, compared to 4.3 months for patients treated with chemotherapy alone. This study offers a promising avenue for treating patients after their cancers develop drug resistance to TKIs.
Ongoing research studies are also helping us to improve the way treatments are delivered to patients. Recent findings have led to the convenience of treatments that can be injected under the skin (versus a treatment that requires an IV bag). And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced the approval of a monthly injectable treatment for EGFR-positive lung cancer.
You can get details about these studies in the news articles below. Or you can visit the EGFR Patient Gateway to stay up to date on the latest research findings and FDA approvals.
Research News
Clinical Advances in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC: Insights From MARIPOSA and FLAURA2
American Journal of Managed Care Online
September 7, 2025
Sacituzumab Tirumotecan in EGFR-TKI–Resistant, EGFR-Mutated Advanced NSCLC
New England Journal of Medicine Online
January 2, 2026
FDA Approves Rybrevant Faspro (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj) as the Only EGFR-Targeted Therapy that can be Administered Once a Month
Drugs
February 17, 2026
Get Connected
Join Us for the EGFR Virtual Meetup
This is an easy way to build your community. On the first Wednesday of each month, you can connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with EGFR-positive lung cancer. The next EGFR Meetup is happening on March 4, 2026 at 12 pm ET. Register for free to get a confirmation email with details about how to join the virtual meeting. New attendees are always welcome and encouraged to join!
Can’t make it? Don’t worry, there’s a full list of virtual meetups to fit your schedule.
Registration is Now Open
May 1-3, 2026
HOPE Summit in Dallas, TX
Join us for HOPE Summit, a warm and uplifting in-person gathering where lung cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers come together to learn, connect, and feel inspired. Registration is free, and there are travel grants and helpful resources available too. Sign up today!
Have You Seen?
Tips to Manage Scanxiety
Many people struggle with feelings of anxiety or worry before medical exams, such as an MRI or a CT scan. LUNGevity has compiled six tips to help patients and caregivers manage this “scanxiety.” Learn more.
An Innovative Plan to Defeat Lung Cancer Resistance
Dr. Susumu Kobayashi is a pioneer in drug resistance in EGFR-positive lung cancer, and he continues his work to destroy the cells that lead to cancer recurrence. With support from the EGFR Resisters/LUNGevity Research Award, his team is targeting a protein called CD74 to eliminate the stubborn cells that survive treatment and lead to drug resistance. This groundbreaking work offers new hope for lasting remission and moves us closer to a potential cure for EGFR-positive lung cancer. Learn more.
Celebrating Progress in Lung Cancer
Join LUNGevity as we highlight 5 key milestones in lung cancer research and treatment. The future is full of hope and excitement for scientific progress that will transform what it means to live with lung cancer. Learn more.
… and there is always so much more to explore on the EGFR Patient Gateway.
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If you need further assistance along your lung cancer journey, please email us at support@lungevity.org. Our team is always here to assist you.
