Dr. Morganstein on the Mechanism of Action of Lurbinectedin in Metastatic SCLC

Neil Morganstein, MD, head and neck cancer medical oncologist, Overlook Medical Center’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, Atlantic Health System, discusses the mechanism of action of lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) in metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

In June 2020, the FDA granted an accelerated approved to lurbinectedin for the treatment of patients with metastatic SCLC with disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy.

Lurbinectedin is a unique molecule that was derived from Ecteinascidia turbinata, a species of sea squirts, says Morganstein. The molecule intercalates into the DNA and inhibits DNA synthesis, Morganstein adds.

The FDA approval of the agent marks a significant milestone in the treatment of patients with SCLC, says Morganstein. Other effective medications were not approved because they did not meet the requirements needed for FDA approval, Morganstein adds. Notably, lurbinectedin was added as a preferred second-line standard for this patient population in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, concludes Morganstein.