Small Cell Lung Cancer Guideline Updates 2020

Before the approval of lurbinectedin, just 1 drug—topotecan—had approval for this indication, leaving these patients with few treatment options after progressing on their initial therapy.

In June, lurbinectedin became just the second approved treatment for patients whose metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy, joining topotecan.

Lurbinectedin is being studied in a number of diseases, but in lung cancer it has a more favorable side effect profile compared with topotecan, said Apar Kishor Ganti, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive disease that has had few treatment options before lurbinectedin, said Apar Kishor Ganti, MD, professor of internal medicine, Division of Oncology & Hematology, University of Nebraska Medical Center.