Crizotinib vs platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with different ROS1 fusion variants

Abstract

Background: ROS1 gene fusion represents a specific subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Crizotinib is recommended for ROS1-positive NSCLC due to its favorable outcome in published clinical trials. However, due to the low incidence of ROS1-positive NSCLC, there is limited information on real-world clinical outcomes in patients treated with either crizotinib or platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. Methods: Outcomes were recorded in 102 patients with stage Ⅲb or Ⅳ NSCLC who were treated at four Chinese hospitals between April, 2010 and June, 2019. Results: Of the 102 patients followed, 71.6% were females, 81.4% were non-smokers, and 98.0% had adenocarcinoma. First-line treatment with crizotinib achieved a significantly longer median progression-free survival (PFS) compared with platinum-based chemotherapy (14.9 months vs 8.5 months, respectively; P