Helena Linardou, MD, PhD, Director of the 4th Department of Oncology and Comprehensive Clinical Trials Center, Metropolitan Hospital, Athens, was invited to discuss the subgroup analysis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the DS7300-A-J101 trial. She first noted that the antibody-drug conjugate targets already studied in this disease—DLL3, CD56, and TROP-2—have shown limited efficacy and toxicity concerns.

Helena Linardou, MD, PhD

“But we saw the preliminary results of a subgroup analysis with ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), which is an antibody-drug conjugate against another new and interesting target, B7-H3, which is overexpressed in SCLC and several other solid tumors. Although there are small numbers and preliminary data, we saw objective response rates in more than one in two patients, and more importantly, durability,” Dr. Linardou said.

“I remind you that this was a heavily pretreated, refractory SCLC population, so 5.6 months of median progression-free survival and median overall survival of more than a year is, I think, more than promising,” she commented. “I think for refractory SCLC—an area of unmet medical need—we have a potent new molecule.” 

DICLOSURE: Dr. Linardou has served as a consultant for or received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Amgen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, MSD Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Takeda