Treatment Options for Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the most aggressive forms of lung cancer but the treatment landscape is evolving faster than ever. After decades with limited options, new immunotherapies, bispecific antibodies, and combination approaches are giving SCLC patients more reasons for hope. Work with your thoracic oncologist to build a personalized treatment plan based on your specific diagnosis, stage, and overall health.

NEW Hope With Answers Episode

New Hope in Small Cell Lung Cancer Research

Dr. Ashish Saxena shares the newest SCLC treatments, clinical trial advice, and why quality of life now matters as much as tumor response.

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SCLC TREATMENT BREAKTHROUGHS

A New Era of Treatment Options for Small Cell Lung Cancer

For more than 30 years, the standard treatment for small cell lung cancer remained largely unchanged — platinum-based chemotherapy with limited long-term success. That era is over.

Today, immunotherapy combinations have become the new standard of care for extensive-stage SCLC. Bispecific T-cell engager therapies like tarlatamab (Imdelltra) which received full FDA approval in November 2025, are offering new options for patients whose cancer has progressed after initial treatment. And clinical trials are testing entirely new approaches that could further transform SCLC care in the coming years.

The right treatment for you depends on several factors, including the stage of your cancer, your overall health, and how your cancer responds to initial therapy. Your oncology team, which may include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists, will work with you to create an individualized treatment plan.

What Is Small Cell Lung Cancer?
Find a Clinical Trial

How Is SCLC Treatment Determined?

Your oncologist will consider several key factors when recommending a treatment plan for small cell lung cancer:
Stage of disease: Whether your cancer is limited-stage (confined to one lung and nearby lymph nodes) or extensive-stage (spread to the other lung, distant lymph nodes, or other organs) is the single most important factor in treatment decisions.

Overall health and lung function: Your ability to tolerate surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Response to prior treatment: If your cancer has returned after initial treatment, your oncologist will consider how long the response lasted and which therapies you have already received.

Biomarker and molecular information: While SCLC does not currently have the same range of targetable mutations as NSCLC, emerging research is identifying molecular subtypes of SCLC that may respond differently to specific therapies. Ask your oncologist about comprehensive testing.

Types of Treatment

Limited-Stage SCLC

When SCLC is caught at limited stage meaning it is confined to one lung and nearby lymph nodes, the goal of treatment is often cure or long-term control. Standard treatment typically includes:

Chemotherapy plus radiation therapy given at the same time (concurrent chemoradiation); this is followed by immunotherapy

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) may be given: Preventive radiation to the brain to reduce the risk of cancer spreading there, offered to patients who respond well to initial treatment

Extensive-Stage SCLC

When SCLC has spread beyond one lung, the goal of treatment shifts to controlling the disease, relieving symptoms, and extending life. Standard first-line treatment now includes:

Chemotherapy plus immunotherapy: A platinum-based chemotherapy regimen combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (atezolizumab or durvalumab) is now the standard of care. Some patients may also be candidates for lurbinectedin chemotherapy during initial treatment, after completion of platinum-based chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy may be used to treat symptoms or to consolidate response after chemotherapy

PCI or brain MRI surveillance to monitor for or prevent brain metastases
If the cancer returns or progresses after first-line treatment, several second-line and later-line options are now available, including lurbinectedin (Zepzelca), tarlatamab (Imdelltra), topotecan, and clinical trials testing new approaches.

Chemotherapy remains the backbone of SCLC treatment. Because small cell lung cancer grows rapidly, it is often highly sensitive to chemotherapy — at least initially. Chemotherapy drugs work by targeting fast-dividing cells throughout the body.

First-Line Chemotherapy

The standard first-line chemotherapy regimen for SCLC is a platinum-based combination:

Etoposide + cisplatin (EP)
Etoposide + carboplatin (EC) often preferred due to a more manageable side effect profile

These regimens are typically given in 4–6 cycles over 12–18 weeks. For extensive-stage patients, chemotherapy is now combined with immunotherapy as the standard of care (see Immunotherapy section below).

Second-Line and Later Chemotherapy

If SCLC returns after initial treatment, the choice of therapy depends on how long the initial response lasted:

Sensitive relapse (cancer returns more than 3–6 months after completing first-line treatment): The original platinum-based regimen may be effective again.
Resistant or refractory disease (cancer returns during or shortly after first-line treatment): Alternative agents such as tarlatamab (currently the preferred choice and also an option for sensitive relapse) or topotecan or other chemotherapies may be recommended, along with enrollment in a clinical trial.

What to Know About Chemotherapy for SCLC

SCLC often responds dramatically to initial chemotherapy — tumors may shrink significantly within the first few cycles.
Unfortunately, the cancer frequently returns within 6–12 months, and subsequent responses to chemotherapy tend to be shorter.
This pattern of initial response followed by relapse is one of the key reasons researchers are working urgently to develop new treatment strategies for SCLC.

Immunotherapy has fundamentally changed the treatment of extensive-stage SCLC. These drugs work by helping your body’s own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

How Immunotherapy Works in SCLC

Cancer cells can produce proteins on their surface that act as a “brake” on the immune system, preventing T-cells from attacking the tumor. Immune checkpoint inhibitors release that brake, allowing the immune system to do its job.

In SCLC, the most significant immunotherapy advances have involved PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment, and bispecific T-cell engagers (e.g. tarlatamab) for later lines of treatment.

FDA-Approved Immunotherapies for SCLC

Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) + chemotherapy

Approved as first-line treatment for extensive-stage SCLC
Combined with carboplatin and etoposide
The IMpower133 trial demonstrated improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone

Durvalumab (Imfinzi) + chemotherapy

Approved as first-line treatment for extensive-stage SCLC
Combined with etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin
The CASPIAN trial showed a significant improvement in overall survival

Durvalumab alone after Chemoradiotherapy improved survival in Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the ADRIATIC study.

Why Immunotherapy Matters for SCLC

A very important finding about immunotherapy is that when a patient responds to treatment, the response can last significantly longer than with chemotherapy alone. While not every patient responds to immunotherapy, those who do may experience durable disease control that was previously rare in SCLC.

Researchers are actively studying why some patients respond to immunotherapy and others do not, and how to increase the number of patients who benefit.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. It plays several important roles in SCLC treatment depending on the stage and treatment goals.

Thoracic Radiation

For limited-stage SCLC, radiation therapy to the chest is a critical part of treatment. When given at the same time as chemotherapy (concurrent chemoradiation), it offers the best chance of long-term disease control or cure. Radiation is typically started early in the chemotherapy course — often during the first or second cycle.

For extensive-stage SCLC, thoracic radiation may be offered as consolidation therapy after a patient has responded well to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Research suggests that adding chest radiation in this setting can improve long-term outcomes for some patients, but this was before the era of immunotherapy, so the role of consolidation radiation now is unclear.

Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation (PCI)

SCLC has a high tendency to spread to the brain. Prophylactic cranial irradiation is preventive radiation delivered to the brain to reduce the risk of brain metastases. PCI is typically offered to patients whose cancer has responded well to initial treatment.

Limited-stage SCLC: PCI is considered a standard treatment for patients who achieve a good response to chemoradiation. Some studies have shown that it reduces the risk of brain metastases and improves overall survival. (a study just presented at the World Lung Conference in Korea suggests that skipping PCI and just doing brain MRI scans alone, like in extensive stage cancer, may be just as good.)
Extensive-stage SCLC: PCI may be offered to select patients, though some oncologists prefer close surveillance with regular brain MRI scans as an alternative. Discuss the benefits and risks with your care team.

Palliative Radiation

Radiation can also be used to relieve symptoms caused by SCLC, including:

Pain from bone metastases
Shortness of breath caused by a tumor blocking an airway
Headaches or neurological symptoms from brain metastases
Superior vena cava syndrome (swelling in the face, neck, and upper body)

Types of Radiation Used in SCLC

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT): Shapes radiation beams to match the tumor from multiple angles
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): Adjusts the intensity of radiation beams to deliver higher doses to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT): Delivers very precise, high-dose radiation in fewer sessions — may be used in select early-stage cases or for treating limited metastases
Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT): Used for PCI or to treat existing brain metastases
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS): Used to treat small brain metastases that are not large in number.

Surgery is not a common treatment for SCLC because the disease has usually spread beyond the lung by the time it is diagnosed. However, in rare cases where SCLC is detected very early as a single, small tumor with no evidence of spread to lymph nodes, surgery may be an option.

When Surgery May Be Considered

The tumor is small and confined to one area of the lung (T1-T2, N0, no lymph node involvement)
Comprehensive staging workup including PET scan, brain MRI, and mediastinal lymph node sampling, confirms no spread
The patient has adequate lung function to tolerate the operation

When surgery is performed, it is almost always followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (and sometimes radiation) to reduce the risk of recurrence. The most common surgical procedures include:

Lobectomy: Removal of the entire lobe of the lung containing the tumor — this is the preferred surgical approach
Wedge resection or segmentectomy: Removal of a smaller portion of the lung — may be considered if lung function is limited

According to Dr. Jessica Donington of the University of Chicago Medical School and a member of LCFA’s Scientific Advisory Board, almost any lung cancer patient might interact with a surgeon — even if surgery is not the primary treatment. Surgeons are involved in staging, diagnosis, and multidisciplinary treatment planning alongside medical oncologists and radiation oncologists.

After decades with few new options, the SCLC treatment pipeline is now more active than at any point in history. Several recently approved therapies and promising investigational approaches are expanding what is possible for SCLC patients.

Tarlatamab (Imdelltra) — FDA Approved November 2025

Tarlatamab is a first-in-class bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody that represents an entirely new approach to treating SCLC. It works by simultaneously binding to two targets:

DLL3 is a protein found on the surface of most SCLC tumor cells but rarely on healthy cells
CD3 is a protein on T-cells (immune cells)

By creating a bridge between the cancer cell and the T-cell, tarlatamab directs the immune system to recognize and destroy the tumor. Tarlatamab received full FDA approval in November 2025 for adult patients with extensive-stage SCLC whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

This approval was based on the DeLLphi-301 trial, which demonstrated meaningful tumor responses in patients who had already received prior treatment, a population with historically very limited options.

Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) FDA Approved 2020

Lurbinectedin is approved for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic SCLC whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. It works by inhibiting a process called transcription, essentially blocking the cancer cell’s ability to read its own DNA and produce the proteins it needs to grow and survive.

Administered as an intravenous infusion every 21 days
Approved as part of maintenance therapy after first line chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as per the IMforte Study.
Can be used as a single agent or is being studied in combination with other drugs
Given with immunotherapy after completion of carboplatin and etoposide. It delays relapse of the cancer when given this way.
Offers an additional option for patients with relapsed SCLC

Trilaciclib (Cosela)

Trilaciclib is not a cancer treatment itself but a supportive therapy designed to protect bone marrow from the damaging effects of chemotherapy. It is given as a short IV infusion before each chemotherapy session. By reducing chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression (the suppression of blood cell production), trilaciclib can help patients:

Maintain healthier blood counts during treatment
Reduce the need for interventions like blood transfusions and growth factor injections
Potentially stay on their chemotherapy schedule with fewer delays

Learn more about managing myelosuppression during SCLC chemotherapy

What Is on the Horizon?

Researchers are investigating several promising new strategies for SCLC, including:

Additional DLL3-targeted therapies: Building on the success of tarlatamab, other drugs targeting the DLL3 protein are in clinical trials
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs): Drugs that deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells by attaching it to an antibody that targets a specific protein on the tumor
Novel immunotherapy combinations: Trials testing new checkpoint inhibitor combinations, co-stimulatory antibodies, and cancer vaccines
SCLC molecular subtyping: Emerging research is identifying distinct molecular subtypes of SCLC (SCLC-A, SCLC-N, SCLC-P, SCLC-I) as well as expression patterns of specific proteins (e.g. SLFN11) that may respond differently to specific therapies — potentially opening the door to precision medicine for SCLC

Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments or new combinations of existing treatments. For SCLC patients, clinical trials are especially important because they provide access to cutting-edge therapies that are not yet widely available.

Why Consider a Clinical Trial?

Access to new therapies: Many of the most promising SCLC treatments including tarlatamab before its approval, were first available only through clinical trials.
Expert care: Clinical trial participants are closely monitored by specialized research teams.
Advancing science: Every patient who participates in a clinical trial contributes to knowledge that may help future SCLC patients.

How to Find SCLC Clinical Trials

Ask your oncologist: Your care team can help identify trials that match your specific diagnosis and treatment history.
Search online databases: ClinicalTrials.gov and the NCI Cancer Information Service maintain searchable databases of open trials.
Consider a second opinion at a comprehensive cancer center: Major academic medical centers often have the broadest range of clinical trial options for SCLC.

LCFA encourages every SCLC patient to ask about clinical trials. New, effective treatments are being tested, evaluated, and FDA-approved regularly. The next breakthrough could be in a trial that is open right now.

You do not have to wait for your doctor to bring up the subject. Let your oncologist know you are interested in joining a clinical trial. Thoracic oncologists are well-versed in the latest research and experimental treatments and can help you determine which studies might be best for your specific situation.

Learn more about clinical trials for lung cancer

Help Fund the Next SCLC Breakthrough

Every treatment option available to SCLC patients today exists because someone invested in the research that made it possible. LCFA funds translational lung cancer research grants that bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and life-saving treatments. Your support accelerates the science that gives patients more time and more hope.

Donate

What to Expect

Receiving a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) can be a life-changing event, and it’s natural to have many questions about what to expect next. One of the first things that will happen is more tests. These tests are important because they help your doctors understand exactly where the cancer is and if it has spread to other parts of your body. This process is called staging, and it’s key to deciding the best treatment for you. With SCLC, there are two main stages: limited stage, where the cancer is only in one part of the chest, and extensive stage, where it has spread more widely. The staging helps your medical team tailor a treatment plan that might include chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of both.

Your healthcare team will also discuss your treatment options with you. For small cell lung cancer, the treatments aim to control the cancer, help ease symptoms, and improve your quality of life. Chemotherapy is a common treatment for SCLC because this type of cancer tends to respond well to these drugs. Sometimes, doctors may also recommend radiation therapy, especially if the cancer is in the limited stage. They might even combine radiation with chemotherapy for a stronger attack on the cancer cells. And, as discussed above, sometimes chemotherapy is combined with immunotherapy for extensive stage SCLC patients. It’s important to talk openly with your doctors about the treatments, what they involve, and any side effects you might experience.

Finally, after starting treatment, you’ll have regular check-ups to see how well the treatment is working. These check-ups usually involve physical exams, blood tests, and imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs. They help your doctors keep an eye on the cancer and make changes to your treatment if necessary. Remember, every person’s journey with small cell lung cancer is unique, so your experience may vary. It’s crucial to have a good support system and to ask your healthcare team any questions you might have. They are there to help you through this journey every step of the way.

Side Effects

Side Effects of SCLC Treatments

Every treatment carries the possibility of side effects. Understanding what to expect can help you and your care team manage them effectively. Always discuss potential side effects with your oncologist before starting any new treatment.

Chemotherapy Side Effects

Because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, not just cancer cells, it can affect healthy tissues as well. Common side effects include:

Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Hair loss (alopecia)
Low blood cell counts (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia) which can increase the risk of infection, bleeding, and fatigue
Loss of appetite
Mouth sores
Peripheral neuropathy (numbness or tingling in hands and feet), particularly with cisplatin
Kidney effects (with cisplatin)

Ask your oncologist about trilaciclib (Cosela), which may help protect bone marrow from chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression.

Immunotherapy Side Effects

Immune checkpoint inhibitors work by activating the immune system, which can sometimes cause the immune system to attack healthy tissues. These are called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Common side effects include:

Fatigue
Rash or skin reactions
Diarrhea or colitis
Thyroid problems (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism)
Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
Lung inflammation (pneumonitis)
Joint pain

Important: Immune-related side effects can range from mild to serious. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your care team promptly. Most irAEs can be managed effectively when caught early, often with corticosteroids or temporary pausing of immunotherapy.

Radiation Therapy Side Effects

Side effects of radiation depend on the area being treated:

Thoracic (chest) radiation:

Fatigue
Skin irritation or redness in the treatment area
Difficulty swallowing (esophagitis)
Cough
Shortness of breath
Lung inflammation (radiation pneumonitis) may develop weeks to months after treatment

Brain radiation (PCI or WBRT):

Fatigue
Hair loss
Headaches
Memory and concentration changes, these may develop gradually over months and can be a concern for long-term survivors
Nausea

Tarlatamab (Imdelltra) Side Effects

As a bispecific T-cell engager, tarlatamab has a unique side effect profile:

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS): An immune reaction that can cause fever, chills, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. CRS is most common during the first doses and is managed with careful monitoring and supportive medications. Patients are typically observed in a hospital setting during initial infusions.
Fatigue
Decreased appetite
Fever
Constipation
Neurological effects: Including confusion, dizziness, or tremor. Patients should report any neurological symptoms immediately.

Managing Side Effects

Side effects vary from person to person. Many can be prevented or managed with supportive medications and proactive communication with your care team. Key strategies include:

Report symptoms early: Do not wait for your next appointment if you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms.
Anti-nausea medications: Effective medications are available to prevent and treat chemotherapy-related nausea.
Growth factors: Medications that stimulate white blood cell production can help reduce infection risk during chemotherapy.
Nutritional support: A dietitian can help manage appetite changes and maintain strength during treatment.
Mental health support: A cancer diagnosis and treatment can take an emotional toll. Ask your care team about counseling, support groups, and other resources.

Your oncology team is your partner in managing side effects. Open, honest communication about how you are feeling is one of the most important things you can do during treatment.

SCLC Treatment

Keeping SCLC at bay

James Hiter and long-term small cell lung cancer (SCLC) survivor Montessa Lee break down maintenance therapy — a treatment approach used after initial chemotherapy to help keep SCLC in check.

FDA-Approved Treatment Options for Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment

Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) + Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. It is used as maintenance treatment in adults whose disease has not progressed after first-line induction therapy with atezolizumab (or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase), carboplatin, and etoposide. The atezolizumab component works by blocking PD-L1, helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Approved for: SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 10/02/2025

Used in: Combination Therapy, Immunotherapy, SCLC
Durvalumab (Imfinzi) – Limited-Stage SCLC

Limited-stage small cell lung cancer. It is used in adults whose disease has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Durvalumab works by blocking PD-L1, a protein that helps cancer cells hide from the immune system, allowing immune cells to recognize and attack the tumor. This was the first FDA-approved immunotherapy regimen for limited-stage SCLC.

Approved for: SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 12/04/2024

Used in: Immunotherapy, SCLC
Durvalumab (Imfinzi) — Extensive-Stage SCLC

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. It is used in combination with etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin as first-line treatment for adults with extensive-stage SCLC. Durvalumab works by blocking PD-L1, a protein that helps cancer cells hide from the immune system, allowing immune cells to recognize and attack the tumor.

Approved for: SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 03/27/2020

Used in: Combination Therapy, SCLC
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. It is used in combination with carboplatin and etoposide as first-line treatment for adults with extensive-stage SCLC. Atezolizumab works by blocking PD-L1, a protein that helps cancer cells hide from the immune system, allowing immune cells to recognize and attack the tumor.

Approved for: SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 03/18/2019

Used in: Combination Therapy, Immunotherapy, SCLC
Tarlatamab-dlle (Imdelltra)

Tarlatamab is given to small cell lung cancer patients who have already tried chemotherapy but whose cancer has come back or spread.

This injectable medicine is an antibody that targets a protein on cancer cells called DLL3. By attaching to DLL3, tarlatamab helps the body’s immune system find and destroy the cancer cells. In a clinical trial, some patients who received tarlatamab had their tumors shrink or disappear for some time.

Approved for: SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 05/16/2024

Used in: SCLC
Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca)

Small cell lung cancer that is metastatic. It is used in adults whose disease has gotten worse during or after treatment with platinum chemotherapy. *This use is approved under FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program. As a condition of approval, a confirmatory trial(s) must show that lurbinectedin provides a clinical benefit in these patients.*

Approved for: SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 06/15/2020

Used in: SCLC
Doxorubicin Hydrochloride (Totect/Zinecard)

Doxorubicin is a chemotherapy drug used in treating both small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For SCLC, it is often part of combination therapy, particularly effective in extensive-stage cases where the cancer has spread beyond the lungs, and can be added when other treatments are insufficient. In NSCLC, doxorubicin typically works alongside other chemotherapy drugs, especially beneficial for certain subtypes and when targeted therapies are not viable. Non-small cell lung cancer that is metastatic. Small cell lung cancer that is metastatic.

Approved for: NSCLC, SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 01/01/1974

Used in: Chemotherapy, SCLC
Methotrexate Sodium (Trexall/Xatmep)

Methotrexate has been a key player in cancer treatment for decades, particularly for lung cancer. It works by inhibiting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division, effectively slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. Often used in combination with other drugs, methotrexate is especially beneficial in advanced stages of lung cancer and can serve as an option for cases resistant to other treatments. First approved by the FDA in 1953, its long-standing track record has provided a solid understanding of its effects over more than 70 years.

Approved for: NSCLC, SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 01/01/1953

Used in: Adjuvant Therapy, Chemotherapy, Combination Therapy, SCLC
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)

Carboplatin, also known as Paraplatin, is a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of lung cancer, effective against both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). It disrupts the DNA replication in cancer cells, leading to their death. It can be employed as part of combination chemotherapy to enhance effectiveness, used after surgery to eliminate residual cancer cells, or given before surgery to shrink tumors for improved surgical outcomes. Additionally, carboplatin plays a role in palliative care for advanced lung cancer. First approved by the FDA in 1989, it has a proven track record in clinical practice over the past three decades.

Approved for: NSCLC, SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 01/01/1989

Used in: Adjuvant Therapy, Combination Therapy, SCLC
Topotecan Hydrochloride (Hycamtin)

Topotecan hydrochloride, marketed as Hycamtin, is a chemotherapy drug primarily used in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The FDA first approved topotecan in 1996 for the treatment of patients with SCLC after disease progression following initial chemotherapy. It works as a topoisomerase I inhibitor, interfering with DNA replication in cancer cells. Topotecan is typically used in the second-line setting for SCLC patients whose disease has recurred or progressed after first-line treatment. It can also be considered in combination with other agents in certain cases.

Approved for: SCLC

Biomarkers: SCLC

FDA Approval Date: 01/01/1996

Used in: SCLC