Neuroendocrine Cancer
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Jun 01 – Jun 08, 2026
SEZ6-targeting antibody-drug conjugate ABBV-706 in advanced small cell lung cancer and solid tumors: a phase 1 trial.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This open-label, phase 1 clinical trial assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity of ABBV-706, a SEZ6-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, in 288 patients with advanced solid tumors, with a focus on 124 relapsed/refractory (R/R) small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. ABBV-706 was administered intravenously every 3 weeks, with safety outcomes highlighting anemia (61%) and fatigue (38%) as the most common treatment-related adverse events in the monotherapy cohort, and grade 3 or higher adverse events in 61% of R/R SCLC patients. Efficacy data showed an objective response rate of 52% in R/R SCLC, with comparable ORRs (56% and 59%) between 1.8 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg doses and median overall survival of 12.4 months at 1.8 mg/kg. The study concluded 1.8 mg/kg as the recommended phase 2 dose based on safety and efficacy.
10.1038/s41591-026-04452-0
May 11 – May 18, 2026
Efficacy and safety of surufatinib and sintilimab with or without chemotherapy for advanced high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms and pancreatic cancer.
NPJ PRECIS ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #39/326
This phase II clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of surufatinib plus the PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab, with or without chemotherapy, in 51 patients with advanced high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), neuroendocrine tumor grade 3 (NET G3), or pancreatic cancer (PC). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and safety. In the NEC cohort, first-line therapy yielded a median PFS of 7.6 months, median OS of 14.3 months, and an ORR of 65.0%; outcomes were less favorable for NET G3 (mPFS 6.8 months) and PC (mPFS 2.1 months) cohorts. The study concluded that surufatinib plus sintilimab, with or without chemotherapy, demonstrated encouraging efficacy and manageable safety across these malignancies.
10.1038/s41698-026-01478-y
Phase 2 study of talabostat, a small molecule inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidases (DPP), administered in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
J IMMUNOTHER CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #12/183TOP-TIER
This phase 2 prospective clinical trial evaluated the combination of talabostat and pembrolizumab in 34 patients with small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (SCNC) who had progression after at least one prior systemic therapy. Patients received pembrolizumab intravenously every 21 days plus escalating oral doses of BXCL701 (talabostat), with response and biomarker analysis as endpoints. In the evaluable subset (n=30), composite response rate was 20% (95% CI 7.7%-38.6%), objective response rate was 13% (95% CI 3.8%-30.7%), median response duration was 9.0 months, median progression-free survival was 2.1 months, and median overall survival was 13.7 months. The study concluded that talabostat plus pembrolizumab showed preliminary anti-tumor activity, with baseline DPP9 stromal expression linked to response, warranting further randomized investigation.
10.1136/jitc-2025-014242
Apr 20 – Apr 27, 2026
NP-101 in Combination with Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Metastatic Extra-pulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (EP-NECs): A Pilot Study.
ENDOCR-RELAT CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #43/191
This single-arm pilot study prospectively evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of NP-101 (Nigella Sativa formulation) with nivolumab and ipilimumab in 12 patients with metastatic extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas refractory to platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients received NP-101 orally and immune checkpoint inhibitors intravenously, with response rates and adverse events assessed per RECIST 1.1 and CTCAE v4.03, respectively. The study found an objective response rate of 41.7% (95% CI: 15.2-72.3%), median response duration of 7.5 months, progression-free survival of 5.7 months, and overall survival of 10.5 months; 66% experienced grade 3/4 adverse events, but no grade 5 toxicities. The combination therapy was safe, well-tolerated, and demonstrated preliminary anti-tumor activity.
10.1530/ERC-25-0232
Apr 13 – Apr 20, 2026
Five-year overall survival in JCOG1205/1206: irinotecan or etoposide plus cisplatin for resected high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.
LUNG CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #19/108
This randomized, open-label, phase III trial (JCOG1205/1206) evaluated long-term overall survival comparing adjuvant irinotecan plus cisplatin (IP) versus etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) in patients with completely resected pathological Stage I–IIIA high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung. A total of 221 patients were randomized (EP n=111; IP n=110), with primary endpoint relapse-free survival (RFS) and secondary endpoint overall survival (OS), and analyses performed 5 years after last enrollment; a central pathological review was also conducted. Three- and five-year RFS were 68.5% and 65.7% in EP versus 71.8% and 65.2% in IP (HR 1.026, 95% CI 0.670–1.569), while three- and five-year OS were 85.6% and 73.5% in EP versus 83.6% and 72.4% in IP (HR 1.175, 95% CI 0.742–1.861); the concordance of institutional versus central pathology was 75.6% (95% CI 69.4%–81.1%). The study concluded there was no significant difference in RFS or OS between EP and IP as adjuvant chemotherapy for resected high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung.
10.1016/j.lungcan.2026.109386
Apr 06 – Apr 13, 2026
Cabozantinib and temozolomide in patients with advanced progressive neuroendocrine tumors: a phase 2 study.
NAT COMMUN · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #10/135TOP-TIER
This open-label, single-arm, phase 2 clinical trial investigated the safety and efficacy of cabozantinib at 40 mg/day combined with metronomic temozolomide (100 mg/m²/day one week on/one week off) in patients with advanced progressive neuroendocrine tumors. The primary endpoint was overall response rate as evaluated by blinded local review, with secondary endpoints including progression-free survival, overall survival, clinical benefit rate, duration of response, and safety. Among 37 participants, the overall response rate was 15% (95% CI, 5–31%), the clinical benefit rate was 100% (95% CI, 89.5–100%), the median progression-free survival was 28.5 months (95% CI, 16.8–28.5), and the 3-year overall survival rate was 68.5% (±9.1%). Despite not meeting the prespecified ORR target, the trial concluded that the high clinical benefit rate and favorable safety profile warrant further controlled investigation of this combination therapy.
10.1038/s41467-026-71756-7