The future promise of antibody-drug conjugates in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive subtype of lung cancer with poor long-term survival. It is highly sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy upfront, but rapidly develops acquired treatment resistance, even with the addition of checkpoint inhibitor therapies. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a rapidly emerging class of therapeutics consisting of a targeting antibody linked to a cytotoxic payload, which can deliver these potent chemotherapies directly to the tumor sites. This review will discuss promising targets and ADCs in SCLC, address current challenges, and future opportunities for the next generation of ADCs.