A Phase 2 interventional study of Tarlatamab, Carboplatin, Etoposid in Extensive Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer, sponsored by University of Cologne. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-13.
Sponsored by University of Cologne · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
The integration of tarlatamab, a bispecific T-cell engager molecule targeting both DLL3 and CD3, into the treatment algorithm for SCLC will substantially improve the prognosis of patients. Nevertheless, disease progression will inevitably occur.
Major challenges for further improving tarlatamab therapy are the molecular understanding of resistance to tarlatamab and the selection of the optimal systemic therapy upon progression. Patients who experience platinum-sensitive progression more than 90 days after first-line chemoimmunotherapy (platinum-free interval (PFI) = day of last administration of platinum-containing chemotherapy until progression) and subsequently progress on tarlatamab therapy may benefit from a platinum-based chemotherapy re-challenge while remaining on tarlatamab treatment. We hypothesize that patients who progress while on tarlatamab may benefit more from the combination of both therapies than from sequential therapy due to synergistic effects. We assume that, besides the cytotoxic effects of platinumbased chemotherapy, additional T-cell modifying effects could support this concept. The disruption of the tumor stroma, which has been described in various chemotherapies, could increase T-cell infiltration and thus have additional immunostimulatory effects (Hoff et al., 2011). The lymphodepletion triggered by chemotherapy and the resulting release of interleukins such as IL-15 could also have an enhancing effect on therapy with bispecific T-cell engagers (Kochenderfer et al., 2017). In addition, it has been shown preclinically that chemotherapeutic agents that have an inhibitory effect on topoisomerase (e.g. doxorubicin) also have a selective inhibitory effect on MDSCs. Here, the administration of the topoisomerase inhibitor etoposide could counteract possible resistance mechanisms (Alizadeh et al., 2014). Different cut-off values for chemotherapy-sensitive progression in small cell lung cancer between 60 - 90 days PFI have been discussed for decades. It has been shown that a platinum re-challenge as a second chemotherapy regimen is superior in a patient population with a PFI greater than 90 days compared to topotecan (Baize et al., 2020). This is expected to apply to approximately 40% of patients receiving standard first-line platinum-based therapy with PD-L1 inhibitors (Torsawa et al., 2023). If tarlatamab is added to first-line therapy in the near future, the proportion of patients with a PFI of more than 90 days could increase further. In the future, platinum-containing chemotherapy could become an increasingly important role as second-line chemotherapy. In parallel with the clinical evaluation of the re-challenge concept, we will conduct an extensive rebiopsy program. This will include a re-biopsy during progression to tarlatamab therapy at screening and a re-biopsy at the time of progression to the study treatment. Whole exome sequencing and transcriptomic analyses of tumor bulks as well as transcriptomic analysis at the single-cell level will be performed to elucidate molecular mechanisms of resistance in the tumor cells and in the tumor microenvironment. Additional immunohistochemical
Open-label, single-arm, multicenter phase II trial. In total, up to 12 trial sites will be opened for recruitment. Patients over 18 years of age with advanced/inoperable or metastatic small cell lung cancer (UICC stage III or IV, who cannot be treated with curative radiochemotherapy) are eligible to participate. They must have previously received platinum-containing chemoimmunotherapy and must currently have progressed on tarlatamab (+/- PD-L1 inhibitor). Tarlatamab must be continued before and during the screening and must not have been discontinued for more than 4 weeks after the last regular intake date. During screening, patients will receive appropriate baseline quantification of disease status, including an MRI scan of the brain. Patients with CNS metastases are eligible to participate in the study, provided they are not receiving elevated doses of steroids and are clinically stable. Local therapy for brain metastases, such as radiation therapy or surgery, must be completed at least 2 weeks prior to study entry. Treatment is administered as described in Figure 2. Study treatment starts with cycle 1, day 1 (C1D1) of platinum-containing re-challenge therapy. The rechallenge therapy is administered in a 21-day cycle for four cycles, with tarlatamab 10 mg continued at a two-week interval. During these 4 cycles of re-challenge, tarlatamab is administered on day 1 and day 15 of cycles 1 and 3. Administration in cycles 2 and 4 occurs on day 8. After the end of the re-induction therapy (these 4 cycles), maintenance therapy with tarlatamab follows on day 1 and day 15 of each subsequent 28-day cycle until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or discontinuation for other reasons as described later in this protocol. Treatment efficacy will be assessed by CT scans of the thorax, abdomen and all other involved areas, and by MRI scans of the brain. Imaging will be performed every 8 weeks during cycles C1-C5 (after week 8, 16, 24), and every three months from C6 onward. Scans will be evaluated according to RECIST 1.1 for all efficacy endpoints.
Disease progression or relapse after first-line platinum-based therapy with a platinum-free interval (PFI) ≥ 90 days (time between last platinum administration and first documented progression).
Before starting study therapy (C1D1), a new biopsy of the tumor must be performed after progression under tarlatamab.
Availability of a tumor sample obtained prior to the start of first-line treatment.
Adequate hematologic and organ function:
Before enrollment, a woman must be either:
The subject must also not donate sperm during the study and for 2 months after the last dose of tarlatamab and 6 months after receiving the last dose of carboplatin and/or etoposide .
Exclusion Criteria:
Symptomatic CNS metastases. Subjects with treated or untreated brain metastases are eligible provided the following criteria are met:
Any unresolved toxicity NCI CTCAE Grade ≥2 from previous anticancer therapy. Exceptions are:
History of another primary malignancy in the past 2 years. Exceptions are:
Any acute, chronic or uncontrolled medical, mental or psychological condition, which in the opinion of the investigator would not permit the subject to participate in the study, complete the study or understand the patient information. These may include, but are not limited to:
Active, chronic or ongoing infection requiring systemic anti-infective treatment (e.g.
tuberculosis). For a (HIV) and viral hepatitis, please see exclusion criteria below.
Patient has a history of clinically significant cardiovascular disease including, but not limited to the following:
Known active hepatitis infection, positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) or HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) at screening. Participants with a past or resolved HBV infection (defined as the presence of anti-HBc and absence of HBsAg) are eligible.
Participants positive for HCV antibody are eligible only if polymerase chain reaction is negative for HCV RNA.
- Participants co-infected with HBV and HCV, or co-infected with HBV and HDV, namely: HBV positive (presence of HBsAg and/or anti HBcAb with detectable HBV DNA)
- HCV positive (presence of anti-HCV antibodies)
Patient is known to be positive for HIV with 1 or more of the following:
Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 7 days before the first dose of trial treatment. The following are exceptions to this criterion:
Major surgery within 4 weeks of starting study treatment.
one Arm
Drug: Tarlatamab, Carboplatin, Etoposid
Study Arm
Progression free-survival (PFS) according to investigator-assessed RECIST 1.1
Progression free-survival (PFS) according to investigator-assessed RECIST 1.1
Time frame: From date of enrollment until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, according to investigator-assessed RECIST 1.1
Toxicity
Incidence, severity and grading of AEs and SAEs, frequency of dose interruptions and reductions, CRS/ICANS profiles \& length of monitoring.
Time frame: From enrollemnt to Safety follow up
Additional efficacy objectives
Best objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR) and disease control rate (DCR) according to investigator-assessed RECIST 1.1 and overall survival (OS).
Time frame: ORR, DOR, DCR: From date of enrollment until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, according to investigator-assessed RECIST 1.1.
Efficacy objectives in pre-specified patient subgroups (i.e. patients with brain metasteses
Progression free survival (PFS), ORR, DOR and DCR according to investigator assessed RECIST 1.1 and OS in pre-specified patient subgroups.
Time frame: From date of enrollment until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, according to investigator-assessed RECIST 1.1.
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Undecided
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University of Cologne