Early Cranial SRT Improves Survival in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC

Early cranial stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) given in combination with first‑line osimertinib was shown to improve both intracranial control and overall survival in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‑mutant non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had limited brain metastases. The findings were presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) and suggest that adding SRT at the outset of systemic therapy can enhance disease management within the central nervous system.

The study, which enrolled patients with newly diagnosed EGFR‑mutant NSCLC and a restricted number of brain lesions, compared outcomes between those who received early SRT plus osimertinib and those who received osimertinib alone. Results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in intracranial progression and a measurable extension of overall survival for the combined‑therapy group. These data support a shift toward integrating early focal radiotherapy into first‑line treatment protocols for patients with EGFR‑mutant NSCLC and limited cerebral disease, potentially informing future guideline updates and clinical practice.