title: Immunotherapy for small-cell lung cancer: emerging evidence.
abstract: Treatment for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has changed little over the past few decades; available therapies have failed to extend survival in advanced disease. In recent years, immunotherapy with treatments such as interferons, TNFs, vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors has advanced and shown promise in the treatment of several tumor types. Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, tremelimumab and ulocuplumab are at the forefront of immunotherapy and have achieved approvals for certain cancer types, including melanoma (ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab), non-SCLC (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) and renal cell carcinoma (nivolumab). Clinical trials are investigating different immunotherapies in patients with other solid and hematologic malignancies, including SCLC. We review emerging evidence supporting the use of immunotherapy in SCLC patients.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Oncology & Clinical Trial Departments, Lung Clinic, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Members of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reck
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Oncology & Clinical Trial Departments, Lung Clinic, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Members of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heigener
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Oncology & Clinical Trial Departments, Lung Clinic, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Members of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Grosshansdorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinmuth
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019496:Cancer Vaccines
keywords: SCLC; immune checkpoints; immunotherapy; small-cell lung cancer