Two pills beat chemotherapy for EGFR lung cancer that escapes through MET

If you or someone you love has EGFR lung cancer, here is real good news. When this lung cancer stops responding to its targeted pills because it finds a MET escape route, a two-pill combination held the cancer back longer than chemotherapy and shrank more tumors.

The pills are dalmelitinib and aumolertinib. One blocks MET, the other keeps blocking EGFR. A second big trial now points the same way, which makes this a real step forward for people in this situation.

How the study worked

This phase 3 trial enrolled 314 people with advanced EGFR lung cancer and extra copies of the MET gene, whose cancer had grown on EGFR pills. By chance, 156 got the two pills and 158 got platinum-based chemotherapy, and they were followed for a median of 11.2 months. It was published Oct. 26, 2026, in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Patients and doctors knew which treatment was given, though independent reviewers who did not know judged whether the cancer had grown, and survival data are still maturing.

What they found

People on the two pills went a median of 6.2 months before their cancer grew. People on chemotherapy went 4.4 months.

In plain terms: about 6 in 10 tumors shrank on the pills (59.6%), compared with about 4 in 10 on chemotherapy (38.6%). The shrinkage also lasted longer, 9.7 months versus 4.4 months.

Serious side effects were about equal in both groups. They were just different. The pills caused more changes in liver blood tests. Chemotherapy caused more problems with blood counts. The researchers described the side effects of the pills as manageable.

What is MET amplification?

EGFR lung cancer is driven by a change in the EGFR gene, and targeted pills are designed to switch that driver off. Over time, some tumors find a back door. They make extra copies of another gene, called MET, and use it to keep growing. That is MET amplification.

It is a common route. It accounts for up to 30% of cases where EGFR pills stop working, especially after third-generation EGFR pills. Until now, targeted options for this situation were limited.

The idea behind this trial is simple. Keep blocking EGFR, and lock the MET door with a second pill. Earlier this month, a different trial called SAFFRON tested a similar approach and also beat chemotherapy. Two separate teams reaching the same answer is what makes this encouraging.

What you can do today

If you or someone close to you has EGFR lung cancer that has started growing on targeted pills, write down one question for the next appointment: “Has my tumor been tested for MET amplification since it started growing?” Bring it with you, and ask the oncologist to walk you through what the answer means for your next treatment.