Future Outlook in HER2-Mutant NSCLC

This episode offers a forward-looking perspective on the management of HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The panel emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and the increasing role of real-world evidence to inform both clinical practice and payer decisions, particularly since most clinical trials include highly selected patient populations. Future efforts are expected to focus on survival outcomes, with special attention to patients who experience prolonged benefit—a concept described as the "tail of the curve." The discussion also notes the current absence of direct comparative trials between antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), highlighting that real-world data will be essential in evaluating their relative efficacy and safety outside of trial settings. Other priorities for the future include understanding the duration and quality of therapeutic responses, managing adverse effects like interstitial lung disease and central nervous system involvement, and refining the sequencing of emerging therapies as additional targeted options become available.