Cetuximab-based therapy is effective in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced and metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Randomized controlled trails (RCTs) where cetuximab added to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have yielded conflicting results. This meta-analysis intended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab-based therapy (CBT) in that setting. We analyzed four eligible RCTs that included 1,003 and 1,015 patients randomized to CBT and control intervention, respectively. As compared with the noncetuximab group, CBT demonstrated an 9% reduction in the risk of disease progression [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.91; (CI = 0.83-1.00); p = 0.06], a 13% reduction in the risk of death [HR = 0.87; (CI = 0.78-0.96); p = 0.005], and an approximately 50% increase in objective response rate [odds ratio (OR) = 1.48; (CI = 1.22-1.80); p < 0.0001]. CBT-related adverse events were similar across comparisons except for toxicities known to be associated with anti-EGFR therapy. CBT produced significant clinical benefit with acceptable toxicity as a first-line strategy in patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC. Further research is needed to identify markers predictive of cetuximab benefit in that disease.