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World J Clin Oncol. Jun 24, 2022; 13(6): 429-447
Published online Jun 24, 2022. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v13.i6.429
New perspectives in the management of small cell lung cancer
Cristina Pangua, Jacobo Rogado, Gloria Serrano-Montero, José Belda-Sanchís, Beatriz Álvarez Rodríguez, Laura Torrado, Nuria Rodríguez De Dios, Xabier Mielgo-Rubio, Juan Carlos Trujillo, Felipe Couñago
Cristina Pangua, Jacobo Rogado, Gloria Serrano-Montero, Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid 28031, Spain
José Belda-Sanchís, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau & Hospital de Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08041, Catalonia, Spain
Beatriz Álvarez Rodríguez, Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario HM Sanchinarro, HM Hospitales, HM CIOCC Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal, Madrid 28050, Spain
Laura Torrado, Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti & Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Lugo 27003, Spain
Nuria Rodríguez De Dios, Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Del Mar & Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) & Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona 08003, Catalonia, Spain
Xabier Mielgo-Rubio, Department of Medical Oncology, Alcorcón Foundation University Hospital, Alcorcón 28922, Madrid, Spain
Juan Carlos Trujillo, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona 08029, Spain
Felipe Couñago, Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Quirónsalud Madrid, Hospital La Luz, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
Author contributions: Pangua C, Rogado J, Serrano-Montero G, Belda-Sanchís J, Álvarez Rodríguez B, Torrado L, and Rodríguez De Dios N performed the research and wrote the paper; Mielgo-Rubio X, Trujillo JC, and Couñago F contributed to the critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Mielgo-Rubio X declares the following conflicts of interest: Advisory role; Boehringer-Ingelheim, Astra Zeneca, Brystol Myers Squibb. Speakers’ bureau; Roche, Astra Zeneca, Brystol Myers Squibb, MSD, Abbott. Research funding; Brystol Myers Squibb. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Cristina Pangua, MD, Consultant Physician-Scientist, Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Av. Gran Vía del Este, 80, Madrid 28031, Spain. cristinapangua.2@gmail.com
Received: April 18, 2021
Peer-review started: April 18, 2021
First decision: July 16, 2021
Revised: September 5, 2021
Accepted: May 22, 2022
Article in press: May 22, 2022
Published online: June 24, 2022
Core Tip

Core Tip: The treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) continues to be a challenge. Recent studies have described survival benefits achieved by new treatments or combinations of treatments that are both safe and effective. Immunotherapy has a new role in SCLC. Nevertheless, continued research efforts are needed. Here, we review the current management of SCLC and discuss recent improvements and future lines of research.