BTOG 2017 | How the AURA3 trial has changed conversations about re-biopsy in second-line lung cancer treatment

Neal Navani, MA, MBBS, MRCP, MSc, PhD, University College London, London, UK, discusses the risk-benefit of performing a re-biopsy in order to determine whether patients with progressive lung cancer can benefit from second-line treatment with EGFR inhibitors, such as osimertinib.

There was previously some reticence among oncologists to commit their patients to a second biopsy. However, following the results of the AURA3 trial, which demonstrated excellent progression-free survival with a second-line EGFR inhibitor, the risk-benefit is now in favour of a re-biopsy. Dr Navani adds that this is set to change the conversation that oncologists will have with their patients about re-biopsy, and requires a good understanding of biopsy techniques, associated risks and side effects.

Recorded at the 2017 meeting of the British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG) in Dublin, Ireland.