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Review Article Volume 12 Issue 2
Osimertinib in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC: benefits beyond disease-free survival and overall survival
Ignacio Casarini, Enrique Díaz Cantón
Received: November 05, 2025 | Published: November 18, 2025
Citation: Casarini I, Cantón ED. Osimertinib in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC: benefits beyond disease-free survival and overall survival. J Lung Pulm Respir Res. 2025;12(2):42-47. DOI: 10.15406/jlprr.2025.12.00332
Abstract
Osimertinib, a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has transformed the management of EGFR mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although clinical trials have demonstrated substantial benefits in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), these traditional endpoints do not fully capture the true clinical and functional impact of the treatment. Beyond survival curves, there are meaningful benefits, including neuroprotection, functional preservation, and improved quality of life, that remain invisible to conventional metrics but are crucial to the real-world patient experience. This review synthesizes evidence from phase II and III studies, highlighting the significant reduction in brain metastases, decreased need for neurotoxic interventions, and prolonged time free from functional deterioration. Additionally, it discusses how therapeutic crossover may mask important differences in OS curves, as many patients who receive late access to osimertinib survive but do so with sequelae that those treated earlier are able to avoid. Emerging combination strategies and the potential role of artificial intelligence in personalizing relapse prevention are also explored. Osimertinib should be regarded not only as an effective therapy but as a central pillar of a new therapeutic paradigm focused on endpoints that reflect not only how long patients live, but how well they live.
Keywords: Osimertinib, EGFR,-Mutated NSCLC, disease-free survival, overall survival
©2025 Casarini, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.