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Current Oncology
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Clinical Advances and Therapeutic Challenges in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and...
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Clinical Advances and Therapeutic Challenges in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Rare Thoracic Cancers

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Thoracic Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 897

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Tommaso Martino De Pas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical Oncology, Cliniche Humanitas Gavazzeni, 24125 Bergamo, Italy
Interests: thymoma; thymic epithelial tumor; thymus neoplasms; lung cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The clinical decision-making process for patients with rare tumors poses a significant challenge in oncology, particularly in defining individualized therapeutic strategies.

Unlike common malignancies, the available evidence and literature on rare tumors are predominantly limited to case series, retrospective studies, and small phase II prospective trials. Randomized trials, which are usually the cornerstone of therapeutic paradigms, are frequently unavailable or constrained by a limited sample size and the heterogeneity of enrolled populations.

Given this context, therapeutic decisions are largely based on physicians’ experience, guidelines developed by expert panels, and extrapolations from available evidence derived from different disease settings.

This Special Issue is dedicated to small-cell lung cancer and rare thoracic tumors, with a particular focus on epithelial thymic tumors, thoracic neuroendocrine neoplasms, and pleural mesothelioma.

Through meticulously analyzed and thoughtfully contextualized perspectives, this edition of Current Oncology aims to provide readers with valuable insights and updates on the latest clinical research developments, helping them navigate the intricate landscape of therapeutic decision-making.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Tommaso Martino De Pas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Oncology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pleural mesothelioma
  • thymic cancer
  • neuroendocrine thoracic tumors
  • small-cell lung cancer
  • rare tumors
  • thoracic cancer

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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12 pages, 243 KiB  
Review
Lung Carcinoids in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs): A Still Overlooked Clinical Entity
by Alice Laffi, Laura Pala, Chiara Catania, Marzia Locatelli, Priscilla Cascetta, Emilia Cocorocchio, Giovanni Luca Ceresoli, Daniele Laszlo, Flaminia Facella, Emily Governini, Marzia Bendoni, Giuseppe Pelosi, Fabio Conforti and Tommaso Martino De Pas
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(8), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32080458 - 14 Aug 2025
Abstract
Pulmonary carcinoids (PCs) are rare neoplasms involving typical and atypical carcinoids (TCs and ACs), defined histologically by absent or focal necrosis and mitotic counts (<2/mm2 vs. 2–10/mm2), respectively. Although uncommon overall, TCs and ACs represent the most frequent non-hematologic malignancies [...] Read more.
Pulmonary carcinoids (PCs) are rare neoplasms involving typical and atypical carcinoids (TCs and ACs), defined histologically by absent or focal necrosis and mitotic counts (<2/mm2 vs. 2–10/mm2), respectively. Although uncommon overall, TCs and ACs represent the most frequent non-hematologic malignancies in the pediatric population. However, significantly less is known about PC in AYAs, a population often overlooked or analyzed within pediatric or adult cohorts. In this critical review, we analyzed existing literature on PCs in the AYA population using a question-and-answer format, emphasizing the substantial gap in current knowledge in this field and the urgent unmet clinical need for future scientific proposals. First, we analyzed epidemiology and the data availability about the association between PCs in AYA patients and genetic syndromes that typically reach the maximal diagnostic incidence within this age group. We then reviewed the available literature about the pathologic characteristics, clinical presentation, and treatment strategies for localized and metastatic disease in PC AYA patients. According to our findings, a significant lack of age-specific evidence and the need for international collaboration and prospective, AYA-focused clinical studies were underscored. Advancing research in this area is essential to improve understanding and develop tailored, evidence-based therapeutic approaches for this peculiar population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances and Therapeutic Challenges in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Rare Thoracic Cancers)

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8 pages, 1263 KiB  
Case Report
A Neuropsychiatric Prelude to Unveiling Small Cell Lung Cancer with Suspected Paraneoplastic Limbic Encephalitis: A Case Report
by Jessa Letargo, X. Melody Qu, Timothy K. Nguyen, Alexander V. Louie, Sara Kuruvilla and Enxhi Kotrri
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(6), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32060366 - 19 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive form of lung cancer characterized by rapid growth and early metastases. As a neuroendocrine tumour, SCLC is especially notorious for various paraneoplastic syndromes, one of which is a rare neurological syndrome called paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis [...] Read more.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive form of lung cancer characterized by rapid growth and early metastases. As a neuroendocrine tumour, SCLC is especially notorious for various paraneoplastic syndromes, one of which is a rare neurological syndrome called paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) that manifests with amnestic cognitive impairment and seizures. Here, we describe a case of a 53-year-old female who presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, and cognitive impairment that started months prior to being diagnosed with extensive-stage SCLC. With no previous neuropsychiatric history, this raised the question of whether her presentation was related to PLE rather than a primary psychiatric condition, as initially diagnosed. Her symptoms improved with chemotherapy and radiation treatment of the underlying cancer, favouring a paraneoplastic etiology. Overall, this case underscores the importance of considering paraneoplastic syndromes in patients presenting with new neuropsychiatric symptoms, as early recognition and treatment can improve prognosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances and Therapeutic Challenges in Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Rare Thoracic Cancers)
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