title: Current concepts in the management of small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a clinical course that is distinct from its more common counterpart non-small cell lung cancer. SCLC continues to be a major clinical problem, with an aggressive clinical course and short disease-free duration after initial therapy. Current optimal treatment consists of chemotherapy with platinum-etoposide, given concurrently with thoracic irradiation in patients with limited stage disease and chemotherapy alone in those with extensive stage. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is recommended for patients who have responded to initial therapy, as it not only decreases the risk of brain metastases and but also improves overall survival. Newer targeted agents are currently being evaluated for this disease.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68198-7680, USA. aganti@unmc.edu
authors.forename: Apar Kishor
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ganti
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Weining
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhen
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010984:Platinum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010984:Platinum; D005047:Etoposide