Authors' recommendations: Small cell lung cancer is a fast growing and rare type of lung cancer, which is usually caused by smoking. Treatment of small cell lung cancer is often successful at first, but usually the cancer returns and spreads to other parts of the body. Lefitolimod is a new drug for the treatment of extensive small cell lung cancer that is injected under the skin. Some studies have suggested that lefitolimod may be helpful for people who have responded to their first treatment that may stop or delay the cancer coming back. More studies are now aiming to show how well it works and that it is safe to use. If lefitolimod is licensed for use in the UK, it could be a new treatment option for extensive small cell lung cancer that may improve survival and quality of life when current treatments have stopped working.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2016

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/lefitolimod-for-extensive-small-cell-lung-cancer-maintenance-therapy/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Research&Intelligence Centre (NIHR HSRIC)