Paul A. Bunn, Jr MD, distinguished professor, James Dudley Chair in Lung Cancer Research, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, and a 2014 Giant of Cancer Care® in Lung Cancer, discusses potentially targeting HER3 in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

 fusions were identified as a molecular target that activates HER3, Bunn says. ​However, no agents have been approved yet to target 

However, the bispecific monoclonal antibody 

, that targets both HER2 and HER3, displayed promising preliminary results in patients with NSCLC, explains Bunn. 

​Currently, several agents including tarloxotinib are being evaluated for patients with 

 fusions and have demonstrated preclinical activity with acceptable safety profiles, Bunn concludes.

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Paul A. Bunn, Jr MD, discusses potentially targeting HER3 in non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Bunn on Targeting HER3 in NSCLC 

Paul A. Bunn, MD, distinguished professor, Division of Medical Oncology, and James Dudley Chair in Lung Cancer Research, University of Colorado, discusses the initial results of the ongoing MYSTIC trial, which is exploring the combination of durvalumab (Imfinzi) and tremelimumab versus chemotherapy in stage IV lung cancer.

Though the full results are not available yet, Bunn says we do know the study did not meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). Bunn was hopeful that the combination of 2 immunotherapy agents would be better than 1 immunotherapy agent, so he is disappointed in the results. However, before making any major conclusions, Bunn says he wants to see the subset analyses. In addition, he notes that sometimes overall survival can be positive, even when PFS is not.

Paul A. Bunn, MD

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Dr. Bunn on Targeting HER3 in NSCLC

Dr. Bunn on Initial Results of the MYSTIC Trial in Stage IV Lung Cancer