Small cell lung cancer: will recent progress lead to improved outcomes?
M Catherine Pietanza, Lauren Averett Byers, John D Minna, Charles M Rudin, M Catherine Pietanza, Lauren Averett Byers, John D Minna, Charles M Rudin
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy with a unique natural history characterized by a short doubling time, high growth fraction, and early development of widespread metastases. Although a chemotherapy- and radiation-sensitive disease, SCLC typically recurs rapidly after primary treatment, with only 6% of patients surviving 5 years from diagnosis. This disease has been notable for the absence of major improvements in its treatment: Nearly four decades after the introduction of a platinum-etoposide doublet, therapeutic options have remained virtually unchanged, with correspondingly little improvement in survival rates. Here, we summarize specific barriers and challenges inherent to SCLC research and care that have limited progress in novel therapeutic development to date. We discuss recent progress in basic and translational research, especially in the development of mouse models, which will provide insights into the patterns of metastasis and resistance in SCLC. Opportunities in clinical research aimed at exploiting SCLC biology are reviewed, with an emphasis on ongoing trials. SCLC has been described as a recalcitrant cancer, for which there is an urgent need for accelerated progress. The NCI convened a panel of laboratory and clinical investigators interested in SCLC with a goal of defining consensus recommendations to accelerate progress in the treatment of SCLC, which we summarize here.
Conflict of interest statement
Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest: M.C. Pietanza reports receiving speakers bureau honoraria from Physicians' Education Resource (PER) and is a consultant/advisory board member for Celgene. L.A. Byers reports receiving commercial research grants from Astex Pharmaceuticals and Takeda, and is a consultant/advisory board member for AbbVie and Biomarin. C.M. Rudin reports receiving a commercial research grant from Biomarin and is a consultant/advisory board member for AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, and Merck. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed by the other author.
©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.
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Source: PubMed