Chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer

: Here we review the current treatments for small-cell lung cancer. Cisplatin and etoposide, combined with concurrent or alternating thoracic irradiation, have been considered to be the standard therapy for patients with limited disease. Dose-intensive weekly chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation have failed to increase survival in patients with extensive disease. Promising new drugs such as irinotecan and taxol may improve survival in patients with extensive disease.