# Rezivertinib in EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Central Nervous System Metastasis: Central Nervous System Efficacy from the Phase III REZOR Study

**Authors:** Sheng Yang, Yanqiu Zhao, Meili Sun, Minghong Bi, Bo Zhu, Zhaohong Chen, Huiqing Yu, Liangming Zhang, Lin Wu, Rui Zhou, Wenxiu Yao, Xingya Li, Zhigang Han, Ke Wang, Lijun Wang, Meiling Wen, Yanzhen Guo, Yingcheng Lin, Shenghua Sun, Shuliang Guo, Tienan Yi, Wenhua Zhao, Zhuang Yu, Jianwen Qin, Yueyin Pan, Zhiyong He, Feng Ye, Huaqiu Shi, Jian Fang, Rui Ma, Hong Lu, Hua Zhang, Jianhua Shi, Jinghua Gao, Jiuwei Cui, Manxiang Li, Shanyong Yi, Shundong Cang, Yongqian Shu, Don Zhang, Jirong Peng, Feng Gao, Tingting Wang, Anqi Zhou, Yuankai Shi

PMC · DOI: 10.34133/cancomm.0018 · 2026-03-31

## TL;DR

Rezivertinib outperformed gefitinib in preventing cancer spread to the brain in patients with a specific lung cancer mutation.

## Contribution

Rezivertinib shows superior central nervous system efficacy compared to gefitinib in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer patients with CNS metastases.

## Key findings

- Median CNS PFS was significantly longer with rezivertinib (24.9 months) compared to gefitinib (15.2 months).
- CNS objective response rates were high in both groups but favored rezivertinib (83.3%) over gefitinib (76.9%).

## Abstract

Background: From 2019 July 15 to 2022 February 14, the REZOR study enrolled 369 treatment-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations (exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation). Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either rezivertinib (180 mg/d) plus gefitinib placebo or gefitinib (250 mg/d) plus rezivertinib placebo. Previous results demonstrated significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) with rezivertinib versus gefitinib and a favorable safety profile. Here, we update the analyses of central nervous system (CNS) outcomes in patients with baseline CNS metastases. Methods: All patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and each subsequent efficacy evaluation until radiological disease progression or any other treatment discontinuation criteria were met. EGFR mutation status was determined by testing using tissue or plasma samples during screening. Patients with stable, asymptomatic CNS metastasis were eligible for enrollment. The CNS full analysis set (cFAS) comprised patients with baseline CNS metastasis identified on magnetic resonance imaging and evaluated by blinded independent central review according to the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases criteria. Patients with measurable CNS target lesions formed the CNS evaluable-for-response set (cEFR). Results: As of the 2023 November 30 data cutoff, 159 patients had baseline CNS metastasis in the cFAS (rezivertinib: n = 81; gefitinib: n = 78) and 25 in the cEFR (rezivertinib: n = 12; gefitinib: n = 13) per blinded independent central review. In the cFAS, 59 CNS PFS events occurred (rezivertinib: n = 30; gefitinib: n = 29). Median CNS PFS was significantly longer with rezivertinib (24.9 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 16.5 months-not estimable [NE]) than with gefitinib (15.2 months; 95% CI, 10.5 months-NE), with a hazard ratio of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.99; P = 0.047). In the cEFR, the CNS objective response rate was 83.3% (95% CI, 51.6% to 97.9%) with rezivertinib and 76.9% (95% CI, 46.2% to 95.0%) with gefitinib (odds ratio = 1.50; 95% CI, 0.20 to 11.0; P = 0.690). No new safety findings were observed. Conclusions: Rezivertinib demonstrated a statistically significant superior CNS efficacy over gefitinib as first-line treatment in advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer patients with baseline CNS metastases. The safety profile was consistent with previous analyses. Trial registration: NCT03866499 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956]
- **Chemicals:** rezivertinib (PubChem CID 118912975), gefitinib (PubChem CID 123631)
- **Diseases:** non-small cell lung cancer (MONDO:0005233)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}
- **Diseases:** Brain Metastases (MESH:D001932), Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (MESH:D002289), Oncology (MESH:D000072716), Central Nervous System Metastasis (MESH:D009362)
- **Chemicals:** gefitinib (MESH:D000077156), Rezivertinib (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** L858R

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13036320/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13036320