Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive subtype of lung cancer characterized
by rapid growth and early spread. It is a highly lethal disease that typically is
diagnosed at a late stage. Surgery plays a very small role in this cancer, and management
typically involves chemotherapy, delivered with thoracic radiation in early-stage
disease. Platinum-based chemotherapy is initially very effective, inducing rapid and
often deep responses. These responses, though, are transient, and upon relapse, SCLC
is highly refractory to therapy. Immunotherapy has shown promise in delivering meaningful,
durable responses and the addition of immunotherapy to first-line chemotherapy has
led to the first improvements in survival in decades. Still, the disease remains difficult
to manage. Incorporating radiation therapy at specific points in patient management
may improve disease control. The development of predictive biomarkers and novel targeted
therapies will hopefully improve options for patients in the near future. This review
focuses on the current standards of care and future directions.
Keywords
small cell lung cancer - immunotherapy - chemotherapy - targeted therapy - review
