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Review
. 2016 Feb;5(1):26-38.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2016.01.13.

Treatment for small cell lung cancer, where are we now?-a review

Gabriela Alvarado-Luna  1 , Daniela Morales-Espinosa  1
Affiliations
Review

Treatment for small cell lung cancer, where are we now?-a review

Gabriela Alvarado-Luna et al. Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents between 13% and 15% of all diagnosed lung cancers worldwide. It is an aggressive neoplasia, with a 5-year mortality of 90% or more. It has historically been classified as limited disease (LD) and extensive disease (ED) in most study protocols. The cornerstone of treatment for any stage of SCLC is etoposide-platinum based chemotherapy; in limited stage (LS), concomitant radiotherapy to thorax and mediastinum. Prophylactic radiotherapy to the central nervous system (CNS) [prophylactic cerebral irradiation (PCI)] has diminished the incidence of brain metastasis as the site for relapse in LD and ED patients, therefore it should be offered to patients with complete response to induction first-line treatment. Regarding second-line treatment, results are more modest and topotecan is accepted as treatment for this scenario offering a modest benefit.

Keywords: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC); chemotherapy; extended disease; limited disease (LD); radiation therapy; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of the advances in the management of patients with SCLC. EP, etoposide + cisplatin; CT/RT, chemo-radiotherapy; PCI, prophylactic cerebral irradiation; LD, limited disease; ED, extended disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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