Author(s): Niwa H
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% to 20% of lung cancer. SCLC is characterized by a high rate of invasion and rapid cell proliferation. The SCLC also shows a high sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; however, the duration of the response is relatively short. The standard chemotherapy regimen for SCLC patients is a combination of platinum and etoposide agents or platinum agents plus irinotecan, which is the most frequently used combination and gives a median survival period of approximately 9 to 12 months in clinical trials. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterized by damage to the lung parenchyma through inflammation and fibrosis. Preexisting ILD is a risk factor for acute exacerbation (AE) for chemotherapy-related ILD (AEILD). AE- ILD can cause death. Chemotherapy is possible for patients with SCLC with ILD remains unclear, since patients with ILD have been excluded from most prospective clinical trials. In clinical practice, patients with SCLC with ILD have been carefully treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Patients with advanced SCLC with ILD treated with etoposide and chemotherapy .
