Authors: Yee, Don; Danielson, Brita; Roa, Wilson

Source: Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials, Volume 3, Number 2, May 2008 , pp. 150-155(6)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Small cell lung carcinoma comprises approximately 10-20% of all lung cancers. At the time of diagnosis, 20-30% of patients have what is considered limited stage disease. Historically, chemotherapy has been the mainstay of treatment for small cell lung cancer, but more recent evidence from large meta-analyses have established the local control and overall survival advantages conferred by the addition of external beam thoracic radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy for limited stage disease along with prophylactic cranial irradiation for complete responders. At present, radiotherapy is recommended to commence in concurrentoe with an earlier cycle of chemotherapy. Despite the established role of thoracic radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for patients with limited stage disease, the optimal radiotherapy dose-fractionation schedule is still undefined. Recent investigational radiotherapy approaches applied to limited stage small cell lung cancer patients include hyperfractionated radiotherapy, dose-escalated daily radiotherapy, and hypofractionation. While several chemotherapy regimens and targeted systemic agents have been investigated in small numbers of small cell lung cancer patients, cisplatin with etoposide remains the current standard chemotherapy regimen for this cancer.

Keywords: Small cell lung cancer; combined modality therapy; chemoradiotherapy

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2008-05-01

More about this publication?

• Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials publishes frontier reviews on recent clinical trials of major importance. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles in the field. Topics covered include: important Phase I - IV clinical trial studies, clinical investigations at all stages of development and therapeutics.
  
  The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians involved in drug therapy and clinical trials.

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