Paclitaxel for treatment of advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC): a retrospective study of 185 patients

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 12–15% of all lung cancer cases worldwide and is among the most common causes of cancer-related mortality. SCLC is an aggressive tumor that frequently develops widespread metastases early, resulting in a dismal prognosis with a median overall survival (OS) of <10 months in patients with extensive disease (ED) and a 5-year OS rate of 1–5% (1). First-line treatment for ED-SCLC patients usually comprises a combination of etoposide and platinum-based chemotherapy, which has a high overall response rate (ORR) of up to 70% (1). However, the rapid development of chemoresistance in SCLC tumors will inevitably cause relapse, and alternative systemic therapies have to be exploited. For second-line treatment, topotecan monotherapy has been approved after a randomized phase III trial showed a survival benefit compared with best supportive care (2). In addition, drugs like vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, amrubicin, gemcitabine and trofosfamide in monotherapy or in combination regimens can be administered upon progression