Editorial
Relapsed small-cell lung cancer: platinum re-challenge or not
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive pulmonary tumor characterized by a rapid doubling time, high growth fraction, and the early development of widespread metastases. However, it is precisely this aggressiveness to render SCLC one of the most chemosensitive types of solid tumor. Despite most patients have achieved responses with first-line chemotherapy, they relapse within a year of treatment (1).
Unfortunately, at relapse, SCLC patients have a very poor prognosis due to drug resistance with a median overall survival (OS) of 2–3 months for patients who do not receive second-line therapy, and rarely more than 6 months for those who receive further therapy (2).
Unfortunately, at relapse, SCLC patients have a very poor prognosis due to drug resistance with a median overall survival (OS) of 2–3 months for patients who do not receive second-line therapy, and rarely more than 6 months for those who receive further therapy (2).
