title: The role of anthracyclines in small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents the 15% of the totally of lung cancer. The percentage of cases in women is arising due to the differences in smoking patterns; it occurs almost exclusively in smokers and appears to be most common in heavy smokers. The stage of disease at presentation is the most important prognostic factor in patients with SCLC; for patients with extended stage disease, the median survival is around 10 months, and the five-year survival rate is 1 to 2 percent. The standard regimen for patients with extensive disease is cisplatin based chemotherapy. Second line chemotherapy is generally less effective than the initial treatment but it can provide significant palliation for many patients. We make a review here of the different options of second line chemotherapy and the role of anthracyclines in it.
authors.affiliation: 1 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario León, Spain ; 2 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-González
authors.affiliation: 1 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario León, Spain ; 2 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diz
authors.affiliation: 1 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario León, Spain ; 2 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Spain.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: 1 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario León, Spain ; 2 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Spain.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Almagro
authors.affiliation: 1 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario León, Spain ; 2 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García Palomo
authors.affiliation: 1 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario León, Spain ; 2 Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provencio
keywords: Small cell lung cancer; amrubicin; anthracyclines