Novel strategy for comprehensive therapy with sustainably complete response in a patient with limited-stage small cell lung cancer: a case report

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor with the poorest prognosis among all types of lung cancer. Developing an effective comprehensive strategy remains a key focus. We herein present the first documented case of a 68-year-old man with limited-stage SCLC who has maintained a complete response (CR) for over 30 months to date. CR was achieved with first-line chemotherapy using etoposide and carboplatin combined with chest volumetric-modulated arc therapy. Maintenance therapy with anlotinib extended the progression-free survival to 20 months after first-line therapy. When resistance developed, second-line therapy with albumin-bound paclitaxel, carboplatin, and the immune checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab sustained CR for 7 months. Third-line therapy with etoposide and cisplatin combined with durvalumab has maintained CR to date.