Dr. Reidy Lagunes on the Potential of Immunotherapy in NETs

Diane Reidy Lagunes, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the potential of immunotherapy agents in the treatment of patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma.

High mutational burdens exist in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma, non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and melanoma, Reidy Lagunes explains. Therefore, since there are high response rates with immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC and melanoma, researchers hypothesize that such agents could demonstrate activity in the former tumor type, as well.

Interferon is one of the earliest and most common immunotherapy agents available, Lagunes says. However, though the agent shows promise, interferon is associated with flu-like symptoms, suggesting that other immunotherapies should be studied in this space.