Emerging Data and the Future Treatment Landscape in Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Novel Therapies, Algorithms, and Combination Strategies

This episode, titled ‘Emerging Data and the Future Treatment Landscape in Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Novel Therapies, Algorithms, and Combination Strategies,’ featured panelists discussing the following critical questions:

Is there any new data for extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma that excites you and what are your key takeaways?

Where do you see novel therapies fitting into treatment algorithms for extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma in the near future?

Do you envision combination therapy having a bigger role in the future in patients with extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma?

Led by the moderator, the expert oncologists examined the rapidly evolving clinical data landscape for extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (epNEC), with Aman Chauhan highlighting the substantial progress being made with delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-targeting agents, including T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies such as tarlatamab, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, and radiopharmaceutical approaches, all of which are showing promising signals of activity in the epNEC space. William Oh, Namrata Vijayvergia, and Sandy Kotiah discussed how novel therapies are expected to enter treatment algorithms first in the second-line setting before moving to the frontline as data mature, drawing parallels to the evolution of treatment sequencing seen in prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The panelists agreed that combination therapy — pairing novel targeted agents with platinum-based chemotherapy backbones — represents the most promising path forward, as these approaches are likely synergistic and may produce deeper, more durable responses while allowing clinicians to leverage the rapid cytoreductive benefits of chemotherapy alongside the more targeted activity of emerging agents.

Throughout the conversation, the experts provided a comprehensive reflection on the field and the factors that may shape how clinicians approach care moving forward.

In the next episode, ‘The Road Ahead: Personalized Therapy, Combination Approaches, and Key Takeaways in Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma,’ panelists continue their discussion on extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma and highlight the future of personalized treatment strategies, the data still needed to guide therapeutic decision-making, and final clinical takeaways for providers managing patients with epNEC.