[5 min read]
In this article:
- Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive form of lung cancer often found in people with a long history of smoking.
- A new study combining two immunotherapy drugs to treat the disease showed unprecedented success, more than doubling median survival time.
- The study was led by Kelly Paulson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Immuno-oncology at the Paul G. Allen Research Center at Providence Swedish Cancer Institute.
- Learn more about the study and how experts at Providence Swedish are offering new treatment options for patients with cancer.
There is emerging hope for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
A new study of a novel combination of immunotherapy drugs led by Kelly Paulson, M.D. Ph.D., director of the Center for Immuno-oncology at the Paul G. Allen Research Center at Providence Swedish Cancer Institute, has shown markedly prolonged survival rates for patients with extensive-stage SCLC, when the cancer has spread throughout the body. On their own, these individual immunotherapies are considered standard-of-care for later-stage SCLC.
The study’s two-pronged treatment approach for SCLC combined tarlatamab, a bispecific antibody immunotherapy drug that helps the body directly recognize and attack cancer cells, with another immunotherapy, PD-L1 — or checkpoint — inhibitors, which harness the body’s natural way of fighting cancer by blocking the interaction of certain proteins found on the surface of cancer and immune cells so the immune system can recognize and destroy them.
“Even though there are four stages for lung cancer, we really only talk about two with SCLC: the limited stage, where it’s potentially curable, and the extensive-stage, which is actually where most people are diagnosed and where it’s metastatic. For extensive-stage SCLC, outcomes have been dismal in the past,” says Dr. Paulson.
“So, we asked the question of whether it makes sense to use these two therapies together, recognizing that the standard of care in 2025 is not where we want to be,” she continues. “We asked if we could give these drugs together safely and what does that look like for the long-term survival of our patients.”
The answer was better than anyone could have hoped. The study's cohort of 88 patients from 13 countries — with several who were screened or referred from Providence Swedish's First Hill and Edmonds campuses, and Providence Swedish Cancer Institute Lacey —
Dr. Paulson presented the astounding data from the study’s first two phases at this year’s International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer’s World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona, Spain. The news was enthusiastically received throughout the cancer medicine community, with at least one leader of a prestigious institution calling the work unprecedented.
"Wow," Charles M. Rudin, M.D., Ph.D., of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, told MedPage Today. "I think this looks really good. Even in maintenance, a two-year survival plus is really striking. We have not seen that before, ever, in our patients with small cell lung cancer."
What is SCLC?
In general, lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2025 alone, 226,650 cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed, and 124,730 people will die of the disease.
There are two types of SCLC: small cell carcinoma and combined small cell carcinoma, a cancer which is characterized by both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is the more common type of lung cancer, affecting some 85% of those diagnosed with the disease.
SCLC is an aggressive form of cancer typically found in people with a long history of smoking. Passive smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risk for SCLC. The cancer is named for the size and shape of its cells and is found in about 13% of all patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Typically, SCLC grows in the lungs and can quickly metastasize – or migrate – to other parts of the body, including the liver, adrenal glands, bones and brain.
While non-small cell lung cancer comprises the vast majority of U.S. lung cancer cases, SCLC affects some 35,000 Americans every year.
New data, new hope
Though the trial is relatively small, it represents a significant advance in treatment options for physicians. For patients, who often have more hope than time, it represents the possibility of much more of both.
“In the lung cancer space, 25 months of survival time is fabulous, but it’s not enough. My patients tell me that’s what they want, and I want more for them. Of course, we have some very long-term survivors, but there’s so much we don’t know about cancer yet,” she emphasizes. “So, if you’re a patient with lung cancer or their family member, this study offers us hope, which there was not a lot of with small cell lung cancer for a long time. This is remarkable progress. We get to look at this through a lens of hope rather than depression. And next year is going to be different than this year, because we are really seeing unprecedented outcomes.”
Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
If you or a loved one have questions about cancer diagnosis, treatment or care, the experts at the Providence Swedish Cancer Institute are here for you. We can accommodate both in-person and virtual visits. To talk to someone or make an appointment, call 1-855-XCANCER.
You can also learn more about available clinical trials. Our physician investigators and researchers are involved in hundreds of ongoing trials involving most types of cancer.
Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Swedish Virtual Care connects you face-to-face with a nurse practitioner who can review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our provider directory.
Additional resources
Small cell and non-small cell lung cancer: What you should know.
Providence Swedish is revolutionizing lung cancer care with robotic bronchoscopy
Harnessing the power of the body’s own immune system to treat (and defeat) cancer
Melanoma is a common cancer. Learn about signs and treatments.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional's instructions.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About the Author
More Content by Swedish Cancer Team
