Irinotecan in small-cell lung cancer: current data and the status of ongoing trials.

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis, rapid tumor growth, and early metastasis. Currently, the cornerstone of treatment in SCLC consists of combination therapy, with platinum/etoposide being the regimen of choice. Unfortunately, even with these advances in treatment, the median survival for patients with limited-stage disease is 10-15 months and 7-11 months for patients with extensive-stage disease. New treatment mechanisms need to be explored in order to extend the survival of SCLC patients. One such new treatment is the topoisomerase I inhibitor, irinotecan. This drug represents a promising advancement in the treatment of SCLC.