Apatinib plus gefitinib as first-line treatment for advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC

Blocking the VEGF pathway can enhance the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs for EGFR-mutant NSCLC. The multicenter phase III ACTIVE study in China compared afatinib (VEGFR TKI) plus gefitinib (EGFR TKI) versus placebo plus gefitinib as first-line treatment for advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC. The median PFS was 13.7 months in the A+G group versus 10.2 months in the P+G group (HR 0.71; p=0.0189). There were more adverse events with A+G compared with P+G, but quality of life was similar in both groups.