The findings could pave the way for new biomarkers and treatment strategies for one of the deadliest forms of lung cancer, said Anish Thomas, the Roswell Park professor of hematology and oncology and senior author of the study.
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for roughly 15% of lung cancer cases, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is characterized by rapid growth, early spread and frequent recurrence after treatment. Despite recent advances, clinicians have few tools to help determine which patients are most likely to have more aggressive cancers.