Clinical insights into small cell lung cancer: Tumor heterogeneity, diagnosis, therapy, and future directions

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid growth and high metastatic capacity. It has strong epidemiologic and biologic links to tobacco carcinogens. Although the majority of SCLCs exhibit neuroendocrine features, an important subset of tumors lacks these properties. Genomic profiling of SCLC reveals genetic instability, almost universal inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and RB1, and a high mutation burden. Because of early metastasis, only a small fraction of patients are amenable to curative-intent lung resection, and these individuals require adjuvant platinum-etoposide chemotherapy. Therefore, the vast majority of patients are currently being treated with chemoradiation with or…

• LF
  LUNGevity Foundation
• IA
  International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
• AS
  Austrian Science Fund

  Awards: T 1062-B33, I4677, I3977, FWF I4677, FWF No. T 1062-B33, FWF I3522, FWF I3522, FWF I3977, and I4677, I3522, FWF T 1062-B33, FWF I3977
• IÉ
  Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium

  Awards: UNKP-21-3, UNKP-20-3, TKP2021
• MT
  Magyar Tüdőgyógyász Társaság

  Award: MPA #2020