Second-line Chemotherapy for Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer and Interstitial Lung Disease

The safety and efficacy of second-line chemotherapy for treating patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) have not been elucidated to date.Between January 2005 and September 2013, we analyzed 23 patients with SCLC and ILD who received second-line chemotherapy. Pre-existing ILD was diagnosed according to clinical features and pretreatment chest high-resolution computed tomography results.The overall objective response rates and disease control rates were 22% and 52%, respectively. The median respective durations of progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.1 months (95% confidence interval (CI)=2.0-3.0 months) and 7.1 months (95% CI=3.6-11.3 months), respectively. Three patients with unusual interstitial pneumonia pattern (13%) developed chemotherapy-related pneumonitis.Second-line treatment may be an effective and safe option for SCLC patients with ILD after sufficient evaluation of risks and benefits.