Dr. Herbst on Next-Generation Agents in NSCLC

Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, Ensign Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology), professor of Pharmacology, chief of Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, associate director for Translational Research, Disease Alligned Research Team Leader, Thoracic Oncology Program, Yale Cancer Center, discusses the next generation of agents coming down the pipeline in non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In the last decade, researchers have discovered 10 different pathways and paradigms to interrupt a cancer, Herbst explains. Immunotherapy has been a key player in targeting some of these pathways, but there are others that required novel targeted agents.

The Lung-MAP trial, for example, is an umbrella trial of 4 to 5 agents against specific molecular targets, Herbst says, adding it is being conducted in nearly 700 centers. This should be a paradigm for how researchers identify targets and explore agents through phase I studies to demonstrate activity. This will also help researchers conduct phase II studies in a cooperative way, he adds.

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