TARLATAMAB FOR EXTENSIVE-STAGE SMALL-CELL LUNG CANCER AFTER PLATINUM-BASED CHEMOTHERAPY: RESULTS OF THE DeLLphi-304 TRIAL AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) remains one of the most aggressive malignancies despite high initial sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. Most patients experience disease progression within the first year, and effective second-line treatment options have been limited. Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) is highly expressed on SCLC cells while showing minimal expression in normal tissues, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Tarlatamab is the first DLL3-directed bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) approved by the European Medicines Agency for adults with ES-SCLC requiring systemic treatment after progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. By simultaneously binding CD3-positive T lymphocytes and DLL3-positive tumour cells, tarlatamab redirects the patient’s immune system against malignant cells.