Single-center phase 2 trial of first-line envafolimab plus carboplatin and etoposide for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

A phase 2 trial at the Chinese PLA General Hospital (Beijing) evaluated the combination of envafolimab (anti-PD-L1) and chemotherapy as first-line treatment for ES-SCLC. Patients received four 3-week cycles of envafolimab plus carboplatine and etoposide, followed by envafolimab maintenance until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Efficacy was favorable, with ORR 87%, DCR 100%, median DoR 5.47 months, median PFS 6.43 months, and median OS 20 months. Grade 3 or 4 TRAEs were seen in 16% of patients; there were no grade 5 TRAEs. The authors conclude that the first-line combination of envafolimab and chemotherapy had promising efficacy and manageable toxicity in ES-SCLC.