Three phase III studies in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were among the notable findings presented during a Presidential Symposium at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer held in Seoul. The studies addressed important questions across the SCLC treatment continuum, including new antibody-drug conjugates for relapsed disease in patients in China and the role of prophylactic cranial irradiation in the era of routine brain MRI surveillance.
TAISHAN-302
Abstract LBA1840: The phase III TAISHAN-302 trial showed that the anti–B7-H3 antibody-drug conjugate tambotatug pelitecan (Tam-Peli) significantly improved survival outcomes and response rates compared with the topoisomerase inhibitor topotecan as second-line treatment for relapsed small cell lung cancer.1Li Zhang, MD, of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou, China presented the study. Dr. Zhang is also Senior Consultant for the Center for Drug Evaluation under the National Medical Products Administration in Beijing.
Li Zhang, MD
In the study, a total of 451 Chinese patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer were randomized; 225 were assigned to Tam-Peli and 226 were assigned to topotecan. Median overall survival was 13.3 vs 9.4 months (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.46), and median progression-free survival was 7.4 vs 2.8 months (HR = 0.29). Objective response rates were 59.1% with Tam-Peli vs 9.7% with topotecan.
“TAISHAN-302 is among the first phase III studies of an antibody-drug conjugate to demonstrate statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate compared with topotecan in relapsed small-cell lung cancer,” said Professor Zhang. He added that “Together with a generally favorable and manageable safety profile, these results support Tam-Peli as a potential new standard-of-care option for second-line SCLC and may reshape the treatment landscape for this challenging disease.”
ARTEMIS-008
Abstract 4615: In the phase III ARTEMIS-008 trial of 461 Chinese patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer, the antibody-drug conjugate risvutatug rezetecan (Ris-Rez), which targets B7-H3 protein, significantly prolonged median overall survival to 18.5 months vs 10.3 months with topotecan (HR = 0.46).2 Median progression-free survival was 7.2 vs 3.0 months (HR = 0.33), and objective response rates were 58.3% vs 12.6%, respectively. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events were less frequent with Ris-Rez than with topotecan (60.9% vs 78.2%).
Jie Wang, MD, PhD
The study was presented by Jie Wang, MD, PhD, Chair of the Medical Oncology Division at the National Cancer Center, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing.
Dr. Wang concluded “Ris-Rez demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit over topotecan in patients with SCLC that progressed after platinum-based therapy, with a favorable safety profile.”He added that “These results suggest the potential of Ris-Rez to define a new standard of care in relapsed SCLC.”
SWOG S1827 MAVERICK
Abstract LBA1457: The phase III SWOG S1827 MAVERICK trial compared brain MRI surveillance alone with MRI surveillance plus prophylactic cranial irradiation in 304 patients with limited- or extensive-stage small cell lung cancer who had completed initial therapy and had no brain metastases on MRI. MRI surveillance alone improved cognitive failure–free survival (HR = 0.60), with similar benefit in patients with limited- and extensive-stage disease.3 Preliminary analysis showed no apparent difference in overall survival (HR = 0.90), although the final survival analysis has not yet been conducted. Grade 3 to 5 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 0.8% of patients receiving MRI surveillance alone vs 7.9% receiving MRI plus prophylactic cranial radiation.
Chad Rusthoven, MD
The study was presented by Chad Rusthoven, MD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine.
“MRI surveillance alone was associated with improved cognitive failure-free survival compared to a strategy of MRI surveillance plus PCI. The benefit of MRI surveillance alone also appears to be consistent across patients with both limited-stage and extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer,” said Dr. Rusthoven, who added that “These results support MRI surveillance alone as the standard of care for patients with SCLC.”
In coming issues, The ASCO Post will provide more detailed coverage of these and other studies presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer. For more comprehensive news and interviews with some of the speakers, visit ASCOPost.com.
DISCLOSURES: For full disclosures of all study authors, visit https://wclc.iaslc.org/.
References
1. Zhang L, Zhao Y, Liu H, et al:Tam-Peli, an anti-B7-H3 antibody-drug conjugate, versus topotecan in relapsed SCLC: A randomized, open-label, phase 3 study (TAISHAN-302). Abstract LBA1840. Presented at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer. September 13, 2026.
2. Wang J, Wang L, Duan J, et al: Risvutatug rezetecan (a B7-H3-directed ADC) versus topotecan in relapsed SCLC: Primary results of phase 3 ARTEMIS-008. Abstract 4615. Presented at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer. September 13, 2026.
3. Rusthoven CG, Redman MW, Brown, PD, et al: SWOG S1827 MAVERICK: Phase III Trial of Brain MRI Surveillance +/- Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation for Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Abstract LBA1457. Presented at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer. September 13, 2026.
