Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry study

Background With the first and second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), clinical benefit and rash correlate together. EGFR TKI-induced rash can be alleviated with tetracyclines, but it is unknown whether the use of tetracyclines can increase the sur...

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Main Authors: Martti Arffman, Sanna Iivanainen, Jussi Pekka Koivunen, Virve Alanen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-10-01
Series:ESMO Open
Online Access:https://esmoopen.bmj.com/content/5/5/e000864.full
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author Martti Arffman
Sanna Iivanainen
Jussi Pekka Koivunen
Virve Alanen
author_facet Martti Arffman
Sanna Iivanainen
Jussi Pekka Koivunen
Virve Alanen
author_sort Martti Arffman
collection DOAJ
description Background With the first and second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), clinical benefit and rash correlate together. EGFR TKI-induced rash can be alleviated with tetracyclines, but it is unknown whether the use of tetracyclines can increase the survival of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with EGFR TKIs.Methods We collected all the patients (n=1271) who had reimbursement for EGFR TKIs (gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib) in Finland 2011–2016, had purchased TKIs, and had data available at nationwide cancer registry. The survival was analysed from the first EGFR TKI purchase to death or end-of follow-up, and patients were stratified according to TKIs, purchases of antibiotics, their ATC class and timing.Results 802 (63.1%) patients had antibiotic purchases −14 to +200 days from the first EGFR TKI purchase, 447 of these tetracyclines. 322 (25.3%) had had purchased antibiotics −14 to +14 days (prophylaxis) from the first EGFR TKI purchase, 188 of these tetracyclines. Purchase of antibiotics was associated with improved survival (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.91), which limited to tetracycline purchases only (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.82). The largest survival benefit was seen with the prophylactic use of tetracyclines (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.88). The benefit from tetracyclines was limited to erlotinib only (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.78) which was retained in multivariate analysis. Prophylactic use of tetracyclines was associated with a longer erlotinib treatment duration (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.96) but not with dose reductions or treatment breaks.Conclusions Tetracyclines improve the survival of NSCLC patients treated with the first and second-generation EGFR TKIs and they should be considered as a prophylaxis when initiating EGFR TKIs with high incidence of rash.
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spelling doaj.art-d5e97381ee0c4999a1c048c018955d3d2022-12-21T22:26:38ZengElsevierESMO Open2059-70292020-10-015510.1136/esmoopen-2020-000864Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry studyMartti Arffman0Sanna Iivanainen1Jussi Pekka Koivunen2Virve Alanen3National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland1 Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, MRC Medical Reasearch Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland 1 Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, MRC Medical Reasearch Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland Oncology and Radiotherapy, Pohjois-Pohjanmaan Sairaanhoitopiiri, Oulu, FinlandBackground With the first and second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), clinical benefit and rash correlate together. EGFR TKI-induced rash can be alleviated with tetracyclines, but it is unknown whether the use of tetracyclines can increase the survival of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with EGFR TKIs.Methods We collected all the patients (n=1271) who had reimbursement for EGFR TKIs (gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib) in Finland 2011–2016, had purchased TKIs, and had data available at nationwide cancer registry. The survival was analysed from the first EGFR TKI purchase to death or end-of follow-up, and patients were stratified according to TKIs, purchases of antibiotics, their ATC class and timing.Results 802 (63.1%) patients had antibiotic purchases −14 to +200 days from the first EGFR TKI purchase, 447 of these tetracyclines. 322 (25.3%) had had purchased antibiotics −14 to +14 days (prophylaxis) from the first EGFR TKI purchase, 188 of these tetracyclines. Purchase of antibiotics was associated with improved survival (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.91), which limited to tetracycline purchases only (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.82). The largest survival benefit was seen with the prophylactic use of tetracyclines (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.88). The benefit from tetracyclines was limited to erlotinib only (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.78) which was retained in multivariate analysis. Prophylactic use of tetracyclines was associated with a longer erlotinib treatment duration (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.96) but not with dose reductions or treatment breaks.Conclusions Tetracyclines improve the survival of NSCLC patients treated with the first and second-generation EGFR TKIs and they should be considered as a prophylaxis when initiating EGFR TKIs with high incidence of rash.https://esmoopen.bmj.com/content/5/5/e000864.full
spellingShingle Martti Arffman
Sanna Iivanainen
Jussi Pekka Koivunen
Virve Alanen
Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry study
ESMO Open
title Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry study
title_full Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry study
title_fullStr Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry study
title_full_unstemmed Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry study
title_short Tetracyclines increase the survival of NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs: a retrospective nationwide registry study
title_sort tetracyclines increase the survival of nsclc patients treated with egfr tkis a retrospective nationwide registry study
url https://esmoopen.bmj.com/content/5/5/e000864.full
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