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Advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy for small cell lung cancer
Longhui Li1,2, Yangyueying Liang1,2, Minghui Yu1,2
1Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
Background:
As one of the most aggressive neuroendocrine tumors, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has the most disappointing prognosis of all lung cancers. Although SCLC responds well to initial chemotherapy, the majority of patients experience disease recurrence within one year, and patient survival is poor. It is still necessary to explore the application of ICIs in SCLC since the beginning of the road to immunotherapy, which broke the 30-year treatment deadlock of SCLC.
Methods:
We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase with search terms such as "SCLC", "ES-SCLC", "ICIs", and "ICBs", and categorized and summarized the relevant literature obtained, and we compiled the latest progress about the application of ICIs in SCLC.
Results:
We listed 14 clinical trials on ICIs, including 8 clinical trials on first-line SCLC treatment, 2 clinical trials on second-line SCLC treatment, 3 clinical trials on third-line SCLC treatment, and 1 clinical trial on SCLC maintenance treatment.
Conclusion:
ICIs in combination with chemotherapy can improve OS in SCLC patients, but the extent to which SCLC patients can benefit from ICIs is limited, and ICIs' combination treatment strategies still need to be continuously explored.
Insights
Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) shows promise for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). While combining ICIs with chemotherapy improves overall survival (OS), further research is needed to maximize patient benefit.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Neuroendocrine Tumors
Background:
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor with a poor prognosis.
- SCLC often recurs within a year despite initial chemotherapy response.
- Immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), offers a new avenue for SCLC treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize the current applications and progress of ICIs in SCLC treatment.
- To analyze clinical trial data on ICIs in various lines of SCLC therapy.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase.
- Inclusion of search terms: "SCLC", "ES-SCLC", "ICIs", and "ICBs".
- Categorization and summarization of relevant clinical trial data.
Main Results:
- Reviewed 14 clinical trials involving ICIs in SCLC.
- Trials included first-line (8), second-line (2), third-line (3), and maintenance (1) SCLC treatment.
- ICIs combined with chemotherapy demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) in SCLC patients.
Conclusions:
- Combination therapy with ICIs and chemotherapy improves OS in SCLC.
- The extent of benefit from ICIs in SCLC is currently limited.
- Further exploration of ICI combination treatment strategies is essential for SCLC.
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