Treatment of small cell lung cancer

Horváth Lilla (1,2), Pozonec Veronika (2,3), Ferencz Bence (1,2), Ostoros Gyula (1), Rényi-Vámos Ferenc (1,2), Téglás Vivien (1,2), Temesi Gabriella (1), Boettiger Kristiina (4), Gálffy Gabriella (5), Bogos Krisztina (1), Fillinger János (1), Döme Balázs (1,2,4,6), Megyesfalvi Zsolt (1,2,3)
(1) Országos Korányi Pulmonológiai Intézet, Budapest
(2) Semmelweis Egyetem, Országos Onkológiai Intézet bázisán működő Mellkassebészeti Klinika, Budapest
(3) Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Fej-Nyaki Daganatok Multidiszciplináris Központ, Budapest
(4) Bécsi Orvostudományi Egyetem, Mellkassebészeti Klinika, Bécs
(5) Református Pulmonológiai Centrum, Törökbálint
(6) Department of Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Lund University, Svédország

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive tumour type characterized by rapid proliferation, early metastasis and disappointing outcomes. Over the last decades, only modest changes in its therapeutic strategy have occurred, and although the introduction of immunotherapy was an important milestone, clinically it has only provided modest benefits in terms of median survival. However, in recent years, a scientific revolution in SCLC has begun and accelerated basic and translational research has contributed to the characterisation of different molecular subtypes of SCLC and the discovery of new therapeutic targets. All these advances offer hope for patients diagnosed with this extremely hard-to-treat tumour. The aim of this review is to summarise the available treatment modalities for SCLC and recent promising new results, highlighting the potential for a paradigm shift.