Notch pathway in small-cell lung cancer: from preclinical evidence to therapeutic challenges.

The first DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T, SC16LD6.5) has shown promising results in terms of efficacy and safety for the management of extensive SCLC, supporting further studies on this novel therapeutic approach that combines specific SCLC targeting with the cell-killing ability of a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer. In the present review, we discuss currently available evidence on the biological role of Notch signaling in SCLC from early preclinical findings to current and future clinical implications.