New Treatments on the Horizon for Small Cell Lung Cancer

Author: Jennifer C. King, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer

People diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have historically had limited treatment options—but researchers are working to change that. At the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, results from a few key studies were presented for the first time, offering hope for future SCLC treatment advancements.

Immunotherapy for Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

In the last few years, it has become standard to use immunotherapy, either Tecentriq (atezolizumab) or Imfinzi (durvalumb), along with as the first treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. This is based on research showing that adding immunotherapy resulted in longer survival times compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone. At this year’s meeting, data from a new immunotherapy drug called serplulimab was presented. This therapy works similarly to the two previously approved immunotherapies.  Results from the trial also showed a similar improvement in survival times when combined with chemotherapy. Along with other data, this trial confirmed that immunotherapy-chemotherapy combination is currently the best first treatment option for extensive-stage SCLC.

Unfortunately, data from another trial showed that adding a new type of immunotherapy (an anti-TIGIT therapy) to the standard immunotherapy-chemotherapy combinations did not provide additional benefit.

Research continues in the laboratory to understand the biology of subtypes of small cell lung cancer. In the future, this will help identify which cancers may benefit the most from immunotherapy treatments.

Emerging Targets & More Understanding

More work continues to find new therapies for SCLC. One presentation highlighted positive phase 2 clinical trial results for a drug called talazoparib in combination with low dose temozolomide chemotherapy. Talazoparib is a type of drug called a PARP inhibitor. This class of drugs may work best in cancers that have changes in DNA repair pathways or related biomarkers. PARP inhibitors, including talazoparib, will be tested in phase 3 clinical trials to see if they are better than current treatments that are used for SCLC that has recurred. These trials will also examine whether certain biomarkers in SCLC can predict who should receive PARP inhibitor treatment.

The overall takeaway is that there is a lot of research happening in the small cell lung cancer space and new therapies are on the horizon. If you or someone you love is living with SCLC, we encourage you to explore our online resources and talk to your treatment team about clinical trials.