Circulating tumor cells: advancing personalized therapy in small cell lung cancer patients

Prajwol Shrestha; Steven Kao; Veronica K Cheung; Wendy A Cooper; Nico van Zandwijk; John E J Rasko; Dannel Yeo

doi:10.1002/1878-0261.13696

Circulating tumor cells: advancing personalized therapy in small cell lung cancer patients

Mol Oncol. 2024 Jul 2. doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.13696. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Prajwol Shrestha^{1

2

3}, Steven Kao^{4

5}, Veronica K Cheung^{4

6}, Wendy A Cooper^{4

6

7}, Nico van Zandwijk^{4

8

9}, John E J Rasko^{1

2

8}, Dannel Yeo^{1

2

8}

Affiliations

¹ Li Ka Shing Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
² Precision Oncology Program, Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
³ Medical Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, Australia.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Medical Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, Australia.
⁶ Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia.
⁷ School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
⁸ Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, Australia.
⁹ Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Concord, Australia.

PMID: 38956984
DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13696

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer with a dismal 5-year survival of < 7%, despite the addition of immunotherapy to first-line chemotherapy. Specific tumor biomarkers, such as delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) and schlafen11 (SLFN11), may enable the selection of more efficacious, novel immunomodulating targeted treatments like bispecific T-cell engaging monoclonal antibodies (tarlatamab) and chemotherapy with PARP inhibitors. However, obtaining a tissue biopsy sample can be challenging in SCLC. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have the potential to provide molecular insights into a patient's cancer through a "simple" blood test. CTCs have been studied for their prognostic ability in SCLC; however, their value in guiding treatment decisions is yet to be elucidated. This review explores novel and promising targeted therapies in SCLC, summarizes current knowledge of CTCs in SCLC, and discusses how CTCs can be utilized for precision medicine.

Keywords: DLL3; liquid biopsy; schlafen11; targeted therapies; tarlatamab; thoracic oncology.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding