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Efficacy and safety of tepotinib in MET‑altered non‑small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis
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  • Published: 27 February 2026

Efficacy and safety of tepotinib in MET‑altered non‑small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

  • Jiayi Xiao1,
  • Qinyi Cai1,
  • Xinyuan Li2 &
  • …
  • Degang Zhang1,3 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Cancer
  • Diseases
  • Medical research
  • Oncology

Abstract

MET exon 14 skipping mutations (METex14) or amplification drives a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tepotinib, a selective MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has shown promise in early trials; however, comparative efficacy and safety data across MET-altered subpopulations remain limited. This systematic review of six studies (546 patients) assessed the clinical outcomes of Tepotinib in METex14 or MET-amplified NSCLC. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR); secondary endpoints included disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. The pooled objective response rate (ORR) was 52% (95% CI: 48–56%) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 76% (95% CI: 72–80%). Median PFS was 10.16 months, and median OS was 14.67 months. Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences in ORR between METex14 (52%) and MET amplification (53%, p = 0.905) or between monotherapy (51%) and combination therapy (56%, p = 0.242). Common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were grade 1–2 peripheral edema (50%) and diarrhea (36%); grade ≥ 3 TRAEs were infrequent (8% for edema). In conclusion, Tepotinib demonstrated comparable efficacy in METex14 and MET-amplified NSCLC with a manageable safety profile. The PFS benefit of combination therapy warrants further randomized trials. These findings support Tepotinib as a valuable therapeutic option for MET-altered NSCLC.

Data availability

All data supporting the findings are included in the manuscript and supplementary files. Extracted data for the meta-analysis are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

The work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province [grant number 25JRRA588]; the Gansu Health Industry Scientific Research Program [grant number GSWSKY2021-061]; and Lanzhou University Second Hospital’s Cuiying Scientific Training Program for Undergraduates [grant numbers CYXZ2022-35 and CYXZ2023-23].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730030, China

    Jiayi Xiao, Qinyi Cai & Degang Zhang

  2. The First Hospital and Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730030, China

    Xinyuan Li

  3. Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Degang Zhang

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  2. Qinyi Cai
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Contributions

Conception and design: JYX and QYC. Acquisition of data: JYX and XYL. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: JYX, DGZ, and QYC. Statistical analysis: JYX and QYC. Obtain funding: DGZ. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

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Correspondence to Degang Zhang.

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Xiao, J., Cai, Q., Li, X. et al. Efficacy and safety of tepotinib in MET‑altered non‑small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41989-z

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  • Received: 25 October 2025

  • Accepted: 24 February 2026

  • Published: 27 February 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41989-z

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Keywords

  • Tepotinib
  • non-small cell lung cancer
  • MET exon 14
  • MET amplification
  • meta-analysis
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