Lurbinectedin is a chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of cancer, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Recently, there has been interest in combining lurbinectedin with immunotherapy to improve treatment outcomes.
A study conducted by Trigo et al. (2021) evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining lurbinectedin with pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, in patients with relapsed SCLC. The study found that the combination therapy was safe and effective in this patient population, with a response rate of 45.5% and a disease control rate of 81.8%. The study also found that the combination therapy improved overall survival compared to historical controls.
However, it is important to note that this was a small, phase II study, and further research is needed to confirm these findings. Additionally, the Drug Patent Watch website notes that lurbinectedin is still under patent protection and has not yet been approved by the FDA for use in the United States.
In conclusion, preliminary results suggest that combining lurbinectedin with immunotherapy may be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with relapsed SCLC. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal dosing and sequencing of these therapies.
Sources:
[1] Trigo J, Subbiah V, Besse B, et al. Lurbinectedin/pembrolizumab in previously treated patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer: An open-label, multicenter, phase II basket trial (STIMULUS). J Clin Oncol. 2021;39(suppl 15):8510. doi:10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.8510
[2] "Lurbinectedin." Drug Patent Watch. https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/LURBINECTEDIN (accessed October 18, 2021).
[3] "Lurbinectedin Plus Pembrolizumab Safe, Effective in Relapsed SCLC." Cancer Network. https://www.cancernetwork.com/view/preliminary-results-show-second-line-lurbinectedin-plus-pembrolizumab-safe-effective-in-relapsed-sclc (accessed October 18, 2021).
[4] Szymanowska-Narloch A, Jassem J. Lurbinectedin in Small Cell Lung Cancer: A New Player in the Field. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(9):2159. doi:10.3390/cancers13092159.