Small Cell Lung Cancer Research Roundup: Promising Clinical Trial Updates
August 31, 2026
Every few months, we round up the latest research, treatment approvals, and guideline changes in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), translated into plain language. This is general information, not medical advice. Always talk with your care team about what's right for you.
A lot has happened in SCLC research over the past several months. Rather than covering everything, this blog focuses on the most clinically promising trial updates.
Imdelltra (tarlatamab) and brain metastasis
What it is and who it applies to: People with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who are receiving Imdelltra (tarlatamab) as a second-line treatment, especially those whose cancer has spread to the brain.
Imdelltra (tarlatamab) is currently the standard second-line treatment for SCLC, meaning it's typically used after the cancer progresses following initial chemotherapy. It works by helping your own immune cells find and attack cancer cells. Researchers analyzed a portion of the data from Imdelltra’s (tarlatamab) original trial to better understand how people with brain metastases responded to the treatment.
What it means:
- The risk of death was reduced by almost half when treated with Imdelltra (tarlatamab) as compared to chemotherapy, even in people whose SCLC had spread to the brain.
- About half of the people in this study group lived longer than 14 months on Imdelltra (tarlatamab), versus under 7 months on chemotherapy.
- Real-world data from clinics (not just the formal trial) showed similar results in everyday practice.
Why this matters: There has been uncertainty about whether immune-based drugs remain effective once the cancer reaches the brain. This data is reassuring. If you have or develop brain metastases, Imdelltra (tarlatamab) remains a treatment option.
New second-line combination: Ivonescimab and liposomal irinotecan
What it is and who it applies to: People diagnosed with extensive-stage SCLC whose cancer has progressed after first-line chemo-immunotherapy.
A phase 2 trial presented at ASCO 2026 tested combining Ivonescimab with liposomal irinotecan. Ivonescimab is a new type of drug that aims to block 2 proteins called PD-1 and VEGF that are commonly targeted using separate drugs. Liposomal irinotecan is a modified form of chemotherapy.
What it means:
- More than 6 out of 10 people (61.7%) had their tumors shrink, which is a strikingly high response rate for second-line SCLC.
- More than 7 in 10 people (72.0%) were still free of cancer progression at 6 months, with about half of the people in this study group not progressing until 9.8 months.
- Almost all people (9 in 10 people or 91.7%) had their disease controlled to some degree.
Why this matters: Second-line SCLC is hard to treat, and a 61.7% response rate brings significant hope. This is a phase 2 trial, which means it needs to be tested with a larger group of people in a phase 3 clinical trial before it can become a standard option.
A "guided missile" drug: ABBV-706
What it is and who it applies to: People with relapsed or refractory SCLC, meaning the cancer came back or stopped responding to prior treatment.
ABBV-706 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). ADCs can be described as a targeted, guided missile. ABBV-706 is built from an antibody that seeks out and locks onto a protein called SEZ6, which sits on the surface of most SCLC cells. Once it attaches, it delivers a chemotherapy payload directly into the cancer cell.
What it means:
- Among 17 people receiving the drug as second-line therapy at the best-recommended dose for safety and efficacy, the response rate was 82%, meaning more than 8 in 10 people had their tumors shrink.
- Side effects were considered manageable and consistent with earlier data.
Why this matters: An 82% response rate is an outstanding number for relapsed SCLC. However, it is still important to be cautious because 17 people is a very small group, and phase 1 trials enroll highly selected people. Real-world results from a larger study are needed to confirm these results, although early data suggests that it could become a meaningful new option for people.
A new CAR T-Cell therapy in SCLC
What it is and who it applies to: People with relapsed or refractory SCLC who have already tried multiple prior treatments.
CAR T-cell therapy has transformed treatment for certain blood cancers but getting it to work in solid tumors like SCLC has been very difficult. A phase 1 trial called LB2102 presented the new data on a CAR T-cell therapy made for SCLC.
How CAR T-cell therapy works: Researchers take a person's own T cells (immune cells that naturally fight infection and disease) and alter them in a lab to target the DLL3 protein commonly found on SCLC cells. The CAR T-cells are also made to remain active inside the hostile environment that SCLC tumors create around themselves.
What it means:
- At the higher doses tested, slightly less than 2 out of 10 people (about 17.6%) had their tumors shrink, and almost 8 out of 10 people (76.4%) had their disease controlled, including some people whose disease stayed controlled for months after treatment.
- Serious immune reactions (like cytokine release syndrome) were rare and mostly mild and overall the treatment was well-tolerated by study participants.
Why this matters: CAR T-cell therapy has not been approved for any solid tumor. This is a phase 1 trial, which is the first step, and focuses on safety and finding the right dose. It's early, but this could create an important new direction for SCLC. Larger studies are planned, but could take several years to reach people outside of trials.
The big picture
In the past, SCLC has had few treatment options. However, meaningful progress is now underway with increased confidence in the second-line standard treatment and several new treatment approaches emerging.
The pace of progress is real, and the pipeline has never looked more active.
Questions for your healthcare team about these studies
- If cancer has spread to the brain: What treatment and clinical trials are an option?
- If cancer has progressed on first-line treatment: What second-line options are available, and am I eligible for any clinical trials?
- Are there open trials near me that I might qualify for?
- What clinical trials should I know about given my current stage and treatment history?
If you have questions about clinical trials or want to learn about your own clinical trial options, contact our LungMATCH team at 1-800-298-4236 or email support@go2.org.
This post summarizes publicly reported clinical trial and guideline updates from major oncology meetings and organizations, including ASCO 2026, OncLive, NCCN, and the American Cancer Society. It is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice from your own healthcare team.