Is osimertinib (Tagrisso) suitable for the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma and analysis of its efficacy

Osimertinib (Osimertinib) is a third-generation irreversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, mainly targeting EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially common exons 19 Deletion and exon 21 L858R mutation patients. Osimertinib has shown significant efficacy in EGFR mutation-positive patients with lung adenocarcinoma. However, the incidence of EGFR mutations in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma is extremely low, so the application of osimertinib in lung squamous cell carcinoma is not routine and is mainly limited by differences in the expression of molecular targets.

In a small number of patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma, if sensitive EGFR mutations are found through genetic testing, osimertinib can theoretically still play a role. Studies and case reports have shown that for such patients, osimertinib can effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation, prolong progression-free survival (PFS), and improve quality of life. The efficacy may vary depending on the mutation type and tumor stage, so clinically it is recommended to carry out individualized medication based on adequate genetic testing.

The therapeutic advantage of osimertinib lies in its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, and it also has certain therapeutic value for lung cancer patients with brain metastasis. In patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma, osimertinib may provide additional efficacy protection if brain metastases are present and concomitant EGFR mutations. This makes it an optional option for a special subgroup of lung squamous cell carcinoma patients, but the risks and benefits still need to be strictly evaluated, and the medication plan should be formulated based on the patient's overall physical condition and previous treatment history.

In general, osimertinib is not a conventional treatment drug for lung squamous cell carcinoma, and its applicability mainly depends on whether the patient has a sensitive EGFR mutation. For patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung squamous cell carcinoma, osimertinib may bring tumor control and survival benefits, but its clinical application requires precise molecular testing and individualized treatment strategies, as well as close monitoring of efficacy and adverse reactions to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Reference materials:https://www.nlm.nih.gov/