Dr. Bardoni on the Importance of the LIBRETTO-001 Trial With Selpercatinib in RET+ NSCLC

Rodolfo Bordoni, MD, a medical oncologist, and director of research at Georgia Cancer Specialists, discusses the importance of the phase 1/2 LIBRETTO-001 trial (NCT03157128) with selpercatinib (Retevmo) in patients with RET fusion–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Findings from the trial were impressive for 2 reasons, according to Bardoni. First, the trial marks the first time in which a specific inhibitor of RET fusion, selpercatinib, was utilized for patients with lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and other conditions that may carry a RET aberration, Bardoni says. Previous targeted therapies that were being used in this population were not specific inhibitors, which led to a limited efficacy. Additionally, these older agents were limited in both the patients who responded to treatment, as well as in those who experienced a prolonged response and clinical benefit, he explains. 

Secondly, the previous targeted agents were multitarget, and targeted different angiogenic gene products. Due to this, the agents caused a significant number of adverse effects, Bardoni concludes.