Is epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy a better treatment option for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer?

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy achieved a high disease control rate and favorable progression-free survival (PFS) for EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This combination therapy might circumvent de novo resistance to EGFR-TKI. Randomized phase III studies are required to confirm the survival benefit of this combination therapy in NSCLC patients. In addition, there are some other promising strategies including the combination of EGFR-TKI plus bevacizumab, third-generation EGFR-TKIs, and immune checkpoint inhibitors that remain a future challenge for lung cancer treatment.