Molecular classification of small cell lung cancer subtypes: Characteristics, prognostic factors, and clinical translation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly malignant tumor with a very poor prognosis; therefore, more effective treatments are urgently needed for patients afflicted with the disease. In recent years, emerging molecular classifications based on key transcription factors of SCLC have provided more information on the tumor pathophysiology, metastasis, immune microenvironment, and acquired therapeutic resistance and reflected the intertumoral heterogeneity of the various SCLC phenotypes. Additionally, advances in genomics and single-cell sequencing analysis have further revealed the high intratumoral heterogeneity and plasticity of the disease. Herein, we review and summarize these recent lines of evidence and discuss the possible pathogenesis of SCLC.

MDT Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer Complicated with Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review / 中国肺癌杂志

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most malignant lung cancer with the highest mortality. At present, the first-line standard treatment is still based on Etoposide and Platinum chemotherapy. However, for SCLC that progresses after first-line therapy, the treatment options are still very limited. Since the molecular mechanism of first-line drug resistance of SCLC is still unclear, and the precision medicine strategy after first-line drug resistance is still in the pre-clinical stage. The proportion of secondary biopsy and genetic testing is very low after the progress of first-line treatment of SCLC. In this study, we report a case of a middle-aged woman who was first diagnosed with SCLC. Adenocarcinoma with sensitive gene mutations and repeated changes of small cell carcinoma were detected by multiple biopsies during the course of the disease, suggesting that the patient may be a special subtype of SCLC - mixed SCLC (M-SCLC). In this case, the patient has been treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy successively, and the survival time has reached 2 years and 8 months. Through the case report and literature review retrospectively, this study aimed to explore the part patients may start to present hybrid histopathologic types or tissue type change after treatment of SCLC. Biopsy pathologic histology and genetic testing is necessary after disease progression to look for potential therapeutic targets, so as to give precise treatment based on molecular markers detection results and provide the patient with the benefit of survival for as long as possible.
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Advances in Molecular Typing of Small Cell Lung Cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive and fatal malignant tumor. It has the characteristics of complex etiology, low differentiation, high malignancy, fast growth, strong invasiveness, early metastasis and acquired drug resistance, resulting in poor prognosis. In recent years, with the gradual deepening understanding on the molecular mechanism of SCLC and multi-omics data, it is proposed that molecular typing can be carried out according to the differential expression of key transcription factors, including SCLC-A, SCLC-N, SCLC-P and SCLC-I subtypes. Molecular typing of SCLC and its clinical application will help doctors to further optimize the detailed diagnosis and treatment plan of SCLC patients, so as to prolong the survival time and improve the quality of life of patients.
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Research Advances on Transformation to Small Cell Lung Cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

The transformation of non-small cell lung cancer to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the major resistant mechanisms, especially patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Translational SCLC has been found to have similar clinical features to primary SCLC. Chemotherapy was short-term effective for transformational SCLC, with a median survival of only about 1 year. The deletion of RB1 and the change of somatic copy number were associated with SCLC transformation. Although the molecular mechanism of SCLC transformation is still not fully understood. At the same time, the treatment of transformational SCLC also faces great challenges. Currently, chemotherapy regimens for SCLC are the main treatment options for transforming SCLC. Combination therapy, local treatment and strategies for prevention of SCLC transformatio are also being explored. This article will review research advances on the clinical features, molecular mechanism and treatment options of translational SCLC.
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