Small cell lung cancer

• Published in: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 78
• Main Authors: Kalemkerian, Gregory P, Akerley, Wallace, Bogner, Paul, Borghaei, Hossein, Chow, Laura Qm, Downey, Robert J, Gandhi, Leena, Ganti, Apar Kishor P, Govindan, Ramaswamy, Grecula, John C, Hayman, James, Heist, Rebecca Suk, Horn, Leora, Jahan, Thierry, Koczywas, Marianna, Loo, Jr, Billy W, Merritt, Robert E, Moran, Cesar A, Niell, Harvey B, O'Malley, Janis, Patel, Jyoti D, Ready, Neal, Rudin, Charles M, Williams, Jr, Charles C, Gregory, Kristina, Hughes, Miranda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Brain Neoplasms - prevention & control; Brain Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Brain Neoplasms - secondary; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - therapy; Neoplasm Staging; Radiotherapy; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma - secondary; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma - therapy
• ISSN: 1540-1413
• DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2013.0011

Neuroendocrine tumors account for approximately 20% of lung cancers; most (≈15%) are small cell lung cancer (SCLC). These NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for SCLC focus on extensive-stage SCLC because it occurs more frequently than limited-stage disease. SCLC is highly sensitive to initial therapy; however, most patients eventually die of recurrent disease. In patients with extensive-stage disease, chemotherapy alone can palliate symptoms and prolong survival in most patients; however, long-term survival is rare. Most cases of SCLC are attributable to cigarette smoking; therefore, smoking cessation should be strongly promoted.