Small-cell carcinoma
| Small-cell carcinoma | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Small-cell lung cancer, oat-cell carcinoma |
| Micrograph of a small-cell carcinoma of the lung showing cells with nuclear moulding, minimal amount of cytoplasm and stippled chromatin. FNA specimen. Field stain. | |
| Specialty | Oncology |
| Risk factors | Smoking |
Small-cell carcinoma, also known as oat cell carcinoma, is a type of highly malignant cancer that most commonly arises within the lung,[1] although it can occasionally arise in other body sites, such as the cervix,[2] prostate,[3] and gastrointestinal tract. Compared to non-small cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma is more aggressive, with a shorter doubling time, higher growth fraction, and earlier development of metastases.[4]
Small-cell carcinoma is a neuroendocrine tumor, meaning that the cells were originally part of the neuroendocrine system. As a result, small cell carcinomas often secrete various hormones, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone or vasopressin. The unpredictable hormone secretion of small-cell carcinoma adds additional symptoms and mortality to the aggressive course of the cancer.[5]
Extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is classified as a rare disorder.[6] Ten-year relative survival rate (combined limited and extensive SCLC) is 3.5% (4.3% for women, 2.8% for men).[7] Survival can be higher or lower based on a combination of factors including stage, age, sex and race.[8] While most lung cancers are associated with tobacco smoking, SCLC is very strongly associated with tobacco smoking.[4]
- ^ "small-cell carcinoma" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ Nasu K, Hirakawa T, Okamoto M, Nishida M, Kiyoshima C, Matsumoto H, et al. (March 2011). "Advanced small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin followed by radical surgery". Rare Tumors. 3 (1): 18–20. doi:10.4081/rt.2011.e6. PMC 3070456. PMID 21464879.
- ^ Capizzello A, Peponi E, Simou N, Ntaskagiannis D, Tasiou I, Kamina S, et al. (February 2011). "Pure small cell carcinoma of the prostate: a case report and literature review". Case Reports in Oncology. 4 (1): 88–95. doi:10.1159/000324717. PMC 3072185. PMID 21475596.
- ^ a b Basumallik N, Agarwal N (2023). "Small Cell Lung Cancer". StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. PMID 29494065. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ Megyesfalvi Z, Gay CM, Popper H, Pirker R, Ostoros G, Heeke S, et al. (2023). "Clinical insights into small cell lung cancer: Tumor heterogeneity, diagnosis, therapy, and future directions". CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 73 (6): 620–652. doi:10.3322/caac.21785. ISSN 1542-4863. PMID 37329269.
- ^ "Small Cell Lung Cancer". National Organization for Rare Disorders.
- ^ "Small cell carcinoma of the Lung and Bronchus". Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Relative Survival Rates by Time Since Diagnosis. U.S. National Cancer Institute. 2016.
- ^ "Small cell carcinoma of the Lung and Bronchus SEER 5-Year Relative Survival Rates, 2011-2017 By Sex and Race/Ethnicity, Ages 50-64, Distant". Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Relative Survival Rates by Time Since Diagnosis. U.S. National Cancer Institute. 2016.