Dr. Horn Discusses Next Steps With Atezolizumab in SCLC

Leora Horn, MD, associate professor of medicine (hematology and oncology), assistant director, educator development program, clinical director, Thoracic Oncology, medical oncologist, Vanderbilt-Ingram Medical Center, discusses next steps with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Data from the IMpower133 study presented at the 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer, and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the addition of atezolizumab to standard carboplatin and etoposide in the frontline setting significantly prolonged survival in patients with extensive-stage SCLC. This regimen of atezolizumab plus chemotherapy may become the new frontline standard of care for patients with stage IV disease, Horn says.

Next steps are addressing patients who fail the atezolizumab regimen, explains Horn. Right now, the only option for these patients is topotecan, which has not shown much efficacy. There are other agents like lurbinectedin emerging in this space that might have an impact, though.