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 469

Special Issue Editor


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Department of Medical Oncology, Cliniche Humanitas Gavazzeni, 24125 Bergamo, Italy
Interests: thymoma; thymic epithelial tumor; thymus neoplasms; lung cancer
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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

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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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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
Viewed by 356
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
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