title: Progress in the management of limited-stage small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Approximately 15% of lung cancer cases are of the small cell subtype, but this variant is highly aggressive and is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Outcomes after current treatment regimens have been poor, with 5-year survival rates as low as 25% for patients with limited-stage disease. Advances in therapy for small cell lung cancer have included the development of more effective chemotherapeutic agents and radiation techniques. For example, hyperfractionated radiotherapy given early in the course of the disease can reduce local recurrence and extend survival. Other technologic advances in radiation planning and delivery such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, image-guided adaptive radiotherapy, and 4-dimensional computed tomography/positron emission tomography have facilitated the design of treatment volumes that closely conform to the shape of the tumor, which allows higher radiation doses to be given while minimizing radiation-induced toxicity to adjacent structures. Future improvements in outcomes will require clarifying the molecular basis for this disease.
authors: Department, of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; University of California at Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California.
authors: Arya
authors: A
authors: Amini
authors: Lauren A
authors: LA
authors: Byers
authors: James W
authors: JW
authors: Welsh
authors: Ritsuko U
authors: RU
authors: Komaki
mesh_terms: D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D056973:Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D061089:Radiotherapy, Image-Guided / Q000379:methods; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: accelerated radiotherapy; chemotherapy; hyperfractionated radiotherapy; lung cancer; radiotherapy; small cell