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Lung CancerSeptember 2023Summary reviewed April 2026

What the ADAURA Trial Found — Osimertinib After Surgery for EGFR-Mutated Lung Cancer

A daily targeted pill reduced the risk of cancer recurrence by 80% compared to placebo in early-stage EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients after surgery — one of the most significant results in thoracic oncology in recent years.

What the trial was testing

The ADAURA Trial enrolled 682 patients with lung cancer. The study was sponsored by AstraZeneca and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.

What the results showed

80% reduction in recurrence risk for early-stage EGFR-mutated lung cancer after surgery.

New England Journal of Medicine · 2023 · NCT02453906

These findings — that in cancer recurrence risk for early-stage EGFR-mutated lung cancer after surgery — were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 682 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with lung cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

Osimertinib (Tagrisso) is FDA-approved for this indication and available now. If you had surgery for early-stage EGFR-mutated lung cancer, ask your oncologist about adjuvant osimertinib. Eligibility requires confirmed EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R).

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.