T-Cell Engagers in Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Literature Review from Tarlatamab Approval to Next-Generation Strategies
TL;DR
Rational TCE design, incorporating costimulatory signaling, antigen selection informed by parallel ADC validation data, and evidence-based combination strategies, offers the most credible path toward expanding this platform’s impact in metastatic lung cancer.
Abstract
Simple Summary Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and patients whose disease has spread throughout the body have very few effective treatment options. A new class of drugs called T-cell engagers works by physically connecting the body’s own immune cells to cancer cells, directing the immune system to attack the tumor. One such drug, tarlatamab, recently received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with advanced small cell lung cancer that has returned after initial chemotherapy, after a large clinical trial showed it significantly extended survival compared to standard chemotherapy. This review summarizes the current evidence supporting tarlatamab, examines its safety profile, and explores a broad pipeline of similar drugs targeting different proteins on lung cancer cells. Understanding these emerging therapies and the challenges they face may help guide future research aimed at improving outcomes for patients with advanced lung cancer.