Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer usually with distal metastasis and very poor prognosis. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for SCLC in all stages and an initial good response, but there is a high chance of disease relapse with an overall poor median survival for both stages. With increasing translational research and a better understanding of the molecular basis of cancer, a number of molecular targets have been identified in various preclinical studies. Targeted drugs have less toxicity than chemotherapy drugs, but no targeted agents have been approved for use in the treatment of SCLC patients to date. This review focuses on targeted therapies in SCLC.
Keywords: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC); angiogenesis inhibitors; apoptosis promoters; cell signalling inhibitors; multidrug resistance inhibitors.