New insights into stage and prognosis in small cell lung cancer: an analysis of 968 cases

Due to its incidence and mortality worldwide, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a notable healthcare issue (1). SCLC accounts for 10–15% of all lung cancers (2). In 2011, according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER), 5-year survival rate was 6.5% for patients with SCLC and 22.1% for those with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (3). This poor prognosis reflects the rapid growth of SCLC, its propensity for spread to lymph nodes and distant organs, and the higher proportion of advanced diseases at diagnosis (2)