title: Role of topoisomerase I inhibitors in small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Small-cell lung cancer constitutes 15%-20% of all cases of lung cancer. It is a chemosensitive disease with an overall response rate of 70%-90% in first-line treatment. However, the majority of patients relapse, and further treatment at that time is unlikely to achieve a durable response. Among the new drugs studied in this disease, topoisomerase I inhibitors are emerging as active agents with significant activity in both untreated and relapsed disease. This paper reviews the current status of irinotecan and topotecan in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shihabi
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Belani