Nabil Ismaili, Director of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy Department at Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health, shared on LinkedIn:
“ESMO 2026 – First presidential session: A Historic Moment for ES-SCLC.
The audience erupted in applause today following the presentation of the highly impressive Phase 3 DeLLphi-306 trial.
The data demonstrated a remarkable ~2-year difference in Overall Survival (OS) favoring Tarlatamab plus Durvalumab versus Durvalumab alone as maintenance therapy in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC).
This massive survival benefit was observed after an induction phase of 4 cycles of Durvalumab plus platinum-etoposide therapy.
Why this is a game-changer:
For decades, ES-SCLC has been a devastating disease with very limited long-term survival options. Seeing such a substantial OS benefit in the maintenance setting with a novel therapeutic combination (Tarlatamab, a DLL3-targeting BiTE, combined with an IO) is truly practice-changing. It is no wonder the room gave a standing ovation!
For my thoracic oncology colleagues: How soon do you think this maintenance strategy will be integrated into our standard protocols? Are we ready for the toxicity management of BiTE therapies in the maintenance setting?”
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Rasha Aboelhassan: Key Insights From ESMO 2026
