Systematic review and network meta-analysis of systemic therapies for platinum refractory or resistant small cell lung cancer

Platinum-refractory or resistant small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. A network meta-analysis compared systemic therapies for platinum-refractory/resistant SCLC. In major databases through June 2025, the authors identified six phase 3 randomized controlled trials. Extracted outcomes included overall survival, progression-free survival, quality-of-life, overall response rate, and treatment-related adverse events. Tarlatamab and nivolumab improved overall survival over other treatments, with tarlatamab ranking highest (SUCRA 0.96) and demonstrating superior safety. The authors conclude that these results support use of tarlatamab for platinum-refractory/resistant SCLC.