The New England Journal of MedicineTarlatamab for Patients with Previously Treated Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Tarlatamab Shows Promising Antitumor Activity in Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients

A recent phase 2 trial has shed light on the potential of tarlatamab, a bispecific T-cell engager immunotherapy, in treating patients with previously treated small-cell lung cancer. The study provides valuable insights into the antitumor activity and safety of tarlatamab, setting the stage for further exploration of this promising treatment option.

HCN Medical Memo
The findings from this study reinforce the potential of tarlatamab as a promising treatment option for small-cell lung cancer. With its demonstrated antitumor activity and manageable safety profile, tarlatamab could significantly impact patient care by providing a new therapeutic avenue for previously treated small-cell lung cancer patients. These findings could potentially shift paradigms in lung cancer treatment, emphasizing the increasing role of immunotherapy in oncology.

Study Design

• The study evaluated the antitumor activity and safety of tarlatamab, administered intravenously every 2 weeks at doses of 10 mg or 100 mg.
• The primary end point was objective response (complete or partial response), as assessed by blinded independent central review according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1.
• Overall, 220 patients received tarlatamab; these patients had previously received a median of two lines of treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is the second most common cancer in both men and women (not counting skin cancer). In men, prostate cancer is more common, while in women breast cancer is more common.

Key Findings

• An objective response occurred in 40% of the patients in the 10-mg group and in 32% of those in the 100-mg group.
• Among patients with an objective response, the duration of response was at least 6 months in 59% (40 of 68 patients).
• The median progression-free survival was 4.9 months in the 10-mg group and 3.9 months in the 100-mg group; the estimates of overall survival at 9 months were 68% and 66% of patients, respectively.
• The most common adverse events were cytokine-release syndrome (in 51% of the patients in the 10-mg group and in 61% of those in the 100-mg group), decreased appetite (in 29% and 44%, respectively), and pyrexia (in 35% and 33%).

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