Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39847172›Full record

Observational studyInvestigational new drugs2025

Efficacy of ramucirumab combined with erlotinib or osimertinib in untreated EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with asymptomatic brain metastases: insights from molecular biomarkers in the RELAY-brain trial.

Hiroyasu Kaneda, Haruko Daga, Asuka Okada, Yuki Nakatani, Yoko Tani, Takako Oka, Kenji Sawa, Kazuko Sakai, Kazuto Nishio, Tomoya Kawaguchi

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Investigational new drugs, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Hiroyasu KanedaDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan. kaneda.hiroyasu@omu.ac.jp.
Haruko DagaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Asuka OkadaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Yuki NakataniDepartment of Medical Oncology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Yoko TaniDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan.
Takako OkaDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan.
Kenji SawaDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan.
Kazuko SakaiDepartment of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan.
Kazuto NishioDepartment of Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan.
Tomoya KawaguchiDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe RELAY-Brain trial examined the clinical utility and survival impacts of ramucirumab (RAM) combined with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-TKI in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with brain metastases. Although RAM combined with erlotinib (ERL) is known to have clinical benefits, the benefits in patients with baseline brain metastases remain unclear. This report examined the long-term follow-up data (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs2051190027) of the same patients, analyzing relevant biomarkers from tumor and plasma samples. PATIENTS AND

methodsThe six patients enrolled in the RELAY-Brain trial received RAM plus ERL or osimertinib (OSM). Our long-term follow-up observational study assessed patient survival, treatment status, and genetic biomarkers. Tumor and plasma samples were analyzed at baseline, during treatment, and at disease progression using next-generation sequencing and droplet digital PCR, to identify gene alterations and EGFR-TKI-resistant mutations.

resultsAfter median follow-up of 44.2 months, the first site of disease progression in three of the patients was the brain metastases. In the RAM + ERL group, two patients with the T790M mutation subsequently received OSM. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival ranged from 10.46 to 42.07 months and from 30.14 to 52.25 months, respectively. Gene alterations included TP53 mutations in three patients and ERBB2 and PIK3CA mutations in two. TP53 mutations were associated with shorter PFS.

conclusionRAM with ERL or OSM achieved significant clinical benefits for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC with asymptomatic brain metastases. These positive outcomes and the identification of related biomarkers support the therapeutic potential of these combinations.

Indexed as

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsBrain NeoplasmsCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungErlotinib HydrochlorideLung NeoplasmsRamucirumabAcrylamidesAgedAniline CompoundsBiomarkers, TumorErbB ReceptorsFemaleHumansIndolesMaleAcrylamidesAniline CompoundsAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedBiomarkers, TumorEGFR protein, humanErbB ReceptorsErlotinib HydrochlorideIndolesosimertinibPyrimidinesRamucirumabBrain metastasisEGFR mutationNext-generation sequencingNon-small-cell lung cancerRamucirumabTP53 mutation

Identifiers

PMID39847172

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.