Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, FASCO, deputy director of the Lung Cancer Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University; Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Chair for Cancer Research, professor and assistant dean for cancer research, and director of the Division of Medical Oncology in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine, discusses the efficacy of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) in patients with 

-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

One of the most important updates to read out in 2020 for this population were the results of the phase 2 DESTINY-Lung01 trial with antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) trastuzumab deruxtecan, which were presented during the 

, according to Ramalingam. The trial featured a small cohort of 42 patients who received the HER2-targeted ADC. 

The results of the trial showed that the agent elicited an overall response rate of 61.9% and a median progression-free survival of 14.0 months, says Ramalingam. These findings represent an important advancement in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive NSCLC, Ramalingam explains. Although it will be important for more mature data to read out, these results are significant, as earlier efforts made to target HER2 in this patient population have been largely unsuccessful, Ramalingam concludes. 

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Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, FASCO, discusses the efficacy of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki in patients with HER2-positive non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Ramalingam on the Efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2+ NSCLC

Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology, assistant dean for Cancer Research, Emory University School of Medicine, deputy director, Winship Cancer Institute, discusses ways to improve upon immunotherapies in lung cancer.

Finding more effective biomarkers that will help oncologists understand which patients will benefit from checkpoint inhibition is one way to further optimize the use of immunotherapies in lung cancer. There is a lot of work being done in this area, says Ramalingam.

Looking beyond biomarkers, combination approaches offer another way to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies in lung cancer. There are multiple approaches that could be taken, including combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy, radiation, and other immune-active agents, Ramalingam says.

Suresh S. Ramalingam

Articles

Dr. Ramalingam on the Efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2+ NSCLC

Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam on Optimizing Immunotherapies in Lung Cancer