Abstract
Small cell lung cancer [SCLC] is a devastating form of cancer, with most patients harbouring extensive disease at diagnosis and survival of less than 5% at five years. Progress in novel therapies has been limited. This specialist review explores current targeted therapy options and potential areas of development.
Highlights
Lung cancer causes 1.59 million deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly a fifth of all cancer deaths in the world
Divided into small [SCLC] and non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC], SCLC represents around 10% - 15% of lung cancers [4]
Epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] targeted therapy in the form of erlotinib and gefinitib is recommended for use in NSCLC [11]
Summary
Lung cancer causes 1.59 million deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly a fifth of all cancer deaths in the world. SCLC tumours demonstrate rapid growth and dissemination, with a cell doubling time of 25 217 days and early metastasis [8] They classically grow as a large, bulky central mass with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, which can often be seen on a chest x-ray. An explosion in understanding about carcinogenesis, summarised by the ten hallmarks of cancer (Figure 1), has seen the advent of targeted therapy in cancer care in the last two decades [10]. This has created a revolution in therapeutics, and the methods of drug discovery, pharmaceutical economics and drug regulation.
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