title: Treatment for small cell lung cancer, where are we now?-a review.
abstract: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents between 13% and 15% of all diagnosed lung cancers worldwide. It is an aggressive neoplasia, with a 5-year mortality of 90% or more. It has historically been classified as limited disease (LD) and extensive disease (ED) in most study protocols. The cornerstone of treatment for any stage of SCLC is etoposide-platinum based chemotherapy; in limited stage (LS), concomitant radiotherapy to thorax and mediastinum. Prophylactic radiotherapy to the central nervous system (CNS) [prophylactic cerebral irradiation (PCI)] has diminished the incidence of brain metastasis as the site for relapse in LD and ED patients, therefore it should be offered to patients with complete response to induction first-line treatment. Regarding second-line treatment, results are more modest and topotecan is accepted as treatment for this scenario offering a modest benefit.
authors.affiliation: 1 Fundación Clínica, Médica Sur. Puente de piedra 150, Col Toriello Guerra, 14050 Mexico City, Mexico ; 2 Translational Research Laboratory, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain ; 3 Dr Rosell Oncology Institute, Quirón Dexeus University Hospital, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alvarado-Luna
authors.affiliation: 1 Fundación Clínica, Médica Sur. Puente de piedra 150, Col Toriello Guerra, 14050 Mexico City, Mexico ; 2 Translational Research Laboratory, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain ; 3 Dr Rosell Oncology Institute, Quirón Dexeus University Hospital, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morales-Espinosa
keywords: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC); chemotherapy; extended disease; limited disease (LD); radiation therapy; treatment