As part of our program on lung cancer highlights, Dr. Joel Neal covered the LUX-Lung 3 trial, a global study that randomized patients with advanced NSCLC and an EGFR mutation to either afatinib, an "irreversible pan-HER inhibitor" that could potentially be an advance over the current EGFR inhibitors we have available now, or standard chemotherapy with cisplatin/Alimta (pemetrexed).  It provided some interesting results, though the question is whether the performance of afatinib exceeded what we might expect from Tarceva (erlotinib) or Iressa (gefitinib), except in terms of side effects, which were more severe and more common with afatinib.  Still, it was a positive trial that I expect will lead to an FDA approval and the commercial availability of afatinib for this clinical population.

Here's Dr. Neal's coverage of the trial, in both video and audio podcast form, as well as the associated transcript and figures for the podcast.

Dr. Neal ASCO 2012 LC Highlights LUX-Lung 3 Audio Podcast

Dr. Neal ASCO 2012 LC Highlights LUX-Lung 3 Figs

Dr. Neal ASCO LC Highlights 2012 LUX-Lung 3 Transcript

In short order we'll have Dr. Neal's summary of the interesting trial of the MEK inhibitor selumetinib for KRAS mutation-positive patients available, too; in the meantime, what do you think of these results? Would you be inclined to favor afatinib now if you had an EGFR mutation, or would you favor Iressa or Tarceva instead? How much does your answer depend on the survival results for the afatinib?