Rezivertinib improves CNS progression-free survival versus gefitinib in EGFR-mutated NSCLC with baseline CNS metastases

From 2019 July 15 to 2022 February 14, the REZOR study enrolled 369 treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer harboring mutations (exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation). Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either rezivertinib (180 mg/d) plus gefitinib placebo or gefitinib (250 mg/d) plus rezivertinib placebo. Previous results demonstrated significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) with rezivertinib versus gefitinib and a favorable safety profile. Here, we update the analyses of central nervous system (CNS) outcomes in patients with baseline CNS metastases. All patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and each subsequent efficacy evaluation until radiological disease progression or any other treatment discontinuation criteria were met. mutation status was determined by testing using tissue or plasma samples during screening. Patients with stable, asymptomatic CNS metastasis were eligible for enrollment. The CNS full analysis set (cFAS) comprised patients with baseline CNS metastasis identified on magnetic resonance imaging and evaluated by blinded independent central review according to the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases criteria. Patients with measurable CNS target lesions formed the CNS evaluable-for-response set (cEFR). As of the 2023 November 30 data cutoff, 159 patients had baseline CNS metastasis in the cFAS (rezivertinib: = 81; gefitinib: = 78) and 25 in the cEFR (rezivertinib: = 12; gefitinib: = 13) per blinded independent central review. In the cFAS, 59 CNS PFS events occurred (rezivertinib: = 30; gefitinib: = 29). Median CNS PFS was significantly longer with rezivertinib (24.9 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16.5 months-not estimable [NE]) than with gefitinib (15.2 months; 95% CI, 10.5 months-NE), with a hazard ratio of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.99; = 0.047). In the cEFR, the CNS objective response rate was 83.3% (95% CI, 51.6% to 97.9%) with rezivertinib and 76.9% (95% CI, 46.2% to 95.0%) with gefitinib (odds ratio = 1.50; 95% CI, 0.20 to 11.0; = 0.690). No new safety findings were observed. Rezivertinib demonstrated a statistically significant superior CNS efficacy over gefitinib as first-line treatment in advanced -mutated non-small cell lung cancer patients with baseline CNS metastases. The safety profile was consistent with previous analyses. NCT03866499 (ClinicalTrials.gov).