Dr. Strauss on Future Research Directions in SCLC

Joshua Strauss, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at Atlantic Health System, discusses future research directions for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

With the high prevalence of somatic mutations in patients with SCLC, the goal is for future research efforts in immunotherapy to yield more positive results than what has been observed thus far in this patient population, Strauss says. Overall, CTLA-4 inhibition has not gleaned promising findings, while results have been minimal with PD-L1 inhibitors, according to Strauss.

In terms of reinvigorating research efforts in immunotherapy for this patient population, TIGIT-targeting agents have demonstrated promise and are currently in clinical development, Strauss notes. Other efforts under evaluation include examining immunologic targets, such as K cells and macrophages, and combining immunotherapy with targeted therapies, such as DNA damage response inhibitors, Strauss concludes.