A New Second-Line Treatment for Small-Cell Lung Cancer?

While initial response rates to standard first-line treatment of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer are high, disease almost invariably recurs. Current second-line options include chemotherapies such as topotecan or lurbinectedin in the United States and amrubicin in Japan. Tarlatamab, a novel class of therapy, is a bispecific T-cell engager targeting DLL3 on tumor cells and CD3 on T cells, enabling T-cell–mediated immunologic destruction of tumor cells. DeLLphi-304, an international, randomized, phase 3 trial, compared tarlatamab with chemotherapy (topotecan, lurbinectedin, or amrubicin) in about 500 adults with extensive small-cell lung cancer who progressed on or after standard first-line treatment.

The key results of an interim analy…