Ourania Romanidou1, Martina Imbimbo2, Giannis Mountzios3, Aidalena Abidin4, Floriana Morgillo5, Raffaele Califano6. 1. Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK Department of Medical Oncology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki 56403, Greece. 2. Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. 3. University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. 4. Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK. 5. Dipartimento di internistica clinica e sperimentale 'F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara', Seconda Università degli studi di Napoli, Naples, Italy. 6. Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester M23 9LT, UK raffaele.califano@christie.nhs.uk.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION OR BACKGROUND: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents ~15% of all cases of lung cancer and is characterized by a rapid tumour doubling time, early onset disease dissemination and high sensitivity to chemotherapy. SOURCES OF DATA: We searched MEDLINE and OVID databases for articles in English published from January 1980 to February 2015. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Platinum-based chemotherapy, thoracic radiotherapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation are standard of care. Benefit from second-line chemotherapy is limited. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: The role of platinum/irinotecan chemotherapy in the Western population and the role of maintenance therapies remain to be established. GROWING POINTS: Knowledge of the biology of SCLC has expanded exponentially and many potential therapeutic targets have been identified. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: The use of circulating tumour cells can help investigating molecular alterations occurring within tumour cells, understanding drug resistance mechanisms and evaluating new treatments.
INTRODUCTION OR BACKGROUND:Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents ~15% of all cases of lung cancer and is characterized by a rapid tumour doubling time, early onset disease dissemination and high sensitivity to chemotherapy. SOURCES OF DATA: We searched MEDLINE and OVID databases for articles in English published from January 1980 to February 2015. AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Platinum-based chemotherapy, thoracic radiotherapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation are standard of care. Benefit from second-line chemotherapy is limited. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: The role of platinum/irinotecan chemotherapy in the Western population and the role of maintenance therapies remain to be established. GROWING POINTS: Knowledge of the biology of SCLC has expanded exponentially and many potential therapeutic targets have been identified. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: The use of circulating tumour cells can help investigating molecular alterations occurring within tumour cells, understanding drug resistance mechanisms and evaluating new treatments.