A New Cancer Subtype

A new, thankfully rare, type of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been discovered: it has been shown to primarily occur in younger people–who have never even smoked.

The journal of Cancer Discovery published the findings from 42 Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers and doctors, including those who treat lung cancer, pathologists, along with tumor genetics and computational analysis specialists. 

The researchers provide/identify:

• The first detailed genomic and clinicopathologic description of this SCLC subtype, which appears without carcinogenesis induced by smoking
• A histogenetic link between these tumors and pulmonary carcinoids, which suggests a new pathway for SCLC development via progression from lower-grade neuroendocrine tumors or their progenitors. 
• Atypical SCLC as a novel entity among lung cancers, highlighting its:
  • Exceptional etiology
  • Distinct clinicopathologic properties
  • Unique therapeutic vulnerabilities. 

Small cell lung cancer is relatively rare according to the American Cancer Society, at 10% to 15% of lung cancers. The study analyzed 600 SCLC patients, and about 3%–20 people–had the rare subtype.

“Patients who develop small cell lung cancer tend to be older and have a significant history of smoking,” said Charles Rudin, MD, PhD, a lung cancer specialist and the study’s senior author, in a news release. “The first patient we identified with atypical SCLC, and whose case led us to look for more, was just 19 years old and not a smoker.”