Targeted therapy for small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is very aggressive clinically, and current cytotoxic therapy has only a limited impact on survival. The development of targeted therapy for SCLC has lagged behind that of non-small cell lung cancer. Current drugs under investigation include those targeting the angiogenetic, apoptotic, sonic hedgehog, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Vaccines seem to be promising adjunctive therapies. This review will present the available data on these agents. Common genetic abnormalities seen in SCLC, which could serve as potential future targets are also discussed.

Overcoming chemoresistance of small-cell lung cancer through stepwise HER2-targeted antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and VEGF-targeted antiangiogenesis

“…Although trastuzumab has also been viewed as a promising targeting agent for HER2-positive SCLC722, there has been no preclinical or clinical reports of trastuzumab-based therapy for SCLC. First screening by IHC is useful and crucial for the accurate selection of patients with HER2-targetable SCLC.…”