Duke Cancer Institute has launched a new Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Center of Excellence. This comprehensive, patient-centered program delivers rapid access to novel therapies, cutting-edge research, and multidisciplinary expertise for patients with one of the most aggressive forms of lung cancer.
The center addresses a critical need in North Carolina, a state in a region with one of the highest lung cancer incidence rates in the United States.
“Our thoracic oncology program brings together so many specialists from different disciplines, all with a united, patient-centered focus,” says Laura Alder, MD, thoracic medical oncologist and medical director of the Small Cell Lung Cancer Center of Excellence. “At Duke, patients with small cell lung cancer have access to experts and treatments on the cutting edge of science, with care plans developed in true partnership.”
Call the referring provider team Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 866-385-3123 (1-866-DUKE-123). You can also email OncologyReferral@Duke.edu or fax 919-613-2316.
Expanding therapies for SCLC
Alder explains that SCLC has historically had limited treatment options. Prognosis remains poor due to rapid recurrence and metastasis. “Small cell lung cancer has a high rate of brain metastasis compared to other cancers. The center is uniquely positioned with the Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis. Our combined leadership and cross-disciplinary expertise help accelerate breakthrough treatments for patients with advanced disease,” says Alder.
Building on Duke's legacy in thoracic oncology, the center aims to provide immediate access to FDA-approved breakthrough therapies—including the first-in-class DLL3-targeted bispecific T-cell engager, tarlatamab.
Approved by the FDA in May 2024 for extensive-stage SCLC following platinum-based chemotherapy, tarlatamab has been seamlessly integrated into Duke’s clinical pathways and has shown a 40% objective response rate. It is just one of many novel agents reshaping the SCLC treatment landscape, and through an expanding portfolio of clinical trials, the center gives patients early access to the next generation of these therapies long before they reach the broader market, with additional FDA-approved breakthroughs added as they become commercially available.
Alder explains, “Duke was involved in the early studies of tarlatamab, and its duration of benefit is what excites us,". It has been an effective second-line therapy, and we're closely watching future trials testing it as a first-line treatment—after or alongside chemotherapy."
Translational research
The center is also advancing translational research, analyzing blood and tissue samples to study tumor biology longitudinally. “Data about patients’ tumor biology could help us make more personalized treatment recommendations and more informed decisions about treatment escalation,” says Alder.
Alder and her colleagues want to understand how to prevent disease progression earlier. “Are there biomarkers that we can identify that help us act faster with treatments or combinations of treatments? We’re using organoid models to uncover synergistic treatments.”
Multidisciplinary expertise
One of the center’s strengths is coordinated, comprehensive care delivered by experts across multiple specialties. “Patients have the opportunity to consult with multiple providers at once, and access to a wide range of support services,” says Alder.
The multidisciplinary team includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and thoracic surgeons, along with experts from the Duke Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and the Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis. Supportive services guide patients through care coordination, social work, nutrition services, counseling, and community partnerships.
Alder adds, “We are working with organizations that support patients with small cell lung cancer to broaden Duke’s relationships with local and national advocacy efforts. It connects our patients and their families to more resources.”
The new center is committed to being a trusted partner for community physicians, offering second opinions, consultations, novel clinical trial opportunities, and fast access for their patients. Alder concludes, “We want to make sure patients with small cell lung cancer have every opportunity for the best possible care.”