UVA Cancer Center first in Virginia to offer alternative treatment for lung cancer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - An exciting new treatment is available for lung cancer patients in Virginia.

The UVA Cancer Center says it is the first provider in the state to offer tarlatamab, a drug that helps the body fight the disease.

16 patients with small cell lung cancer at UVA have already received the new treatment. Experts say the drug allows these patients to live longer and improves their quality of life, too.

“Small cell lung cancer is a is a devastating disease that unfortunately makes up about 15% of lung cancers, which is one of the most common types of cancers we see both in Virginia and nationally,” said Doctor Ryan Gentzler, a lung cancer specialist at UVA Health.

Tarlatamab is offered as an alternative to traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy.

“This tarlatamab has been shown to be more durable and more effective than the available treatments...the survival rates, the length of time patients are living after receiving this treatment is much longer than with the currently available treatments,” Dr. Gentzler said.

The Food and Drug Administration approved tarlatamab in May. Less than a month later, the UVA Cancer Center began offering it to patients.

“We knew that this is a patient population with without many good options, and that this treatment offers a lot of potential, a lot of hope for patients,” said Dr. Gentzler.

Those taking the drug must stay in the hospital during the first two treatments. Then, if the patient is tolerating the drug well, they are free to go home.

Dr. Gentzler says that they have already noticed improvements in their own patients.

“We certainly have had some success,” said Dr. Gentzler. “Cases where tumors are shrinking, patients are feeling better... it typically works for about nine months when it’s working, and patients can live well over a year after getting this, which in this disease, is a really remarkable number.”

Dr. Gentzler says—excluding certain pre-existing health risks—anyone diagnosed with small cell lung cancer is eligible to use the medication.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.