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Research Article: Real-world treatment patterns and outcomes for patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer treated in US community oncology practices

Date Published: 2026-05-22

Abstract:
Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Advances have been made in the treatment landscape in the past decade, including integrating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with platinum-based chemotherapy in the first-line (1L) setting and the recent approval of T-cell engagers in subsequent lines. Despite these developments, efficacy remains limited, and therapeutic resistance emerges rapidly. This study aimed to evaluate treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among real-world ES-SCLC patients treated in US community oncology practices. This retrospective cohort study used secondary structured electronic health records (EHR) data from the iKnowMed system. Adult patients diagnosed with de novo , or progressive/recurrent ES-SCLC who initiated 1L systemic therapy (index event) between 1 October 2018, and 30 June 2023, and had at least one follow-up encounter were identified. Patients were followed through 30 June 2024. Descriptive analyses summarized patient characteristics and treatment patterns. Real-world time on treatment (rwToT), time to next treatment (rwTTNT), and overall survival (rwOS) were assessed using Kaplan–Meier methods. Among 3,484 eligible patients, 86.6% had de novo and 13.3% had progressive/recurrent ES-SCLC. The most common 1L treatment was ICI plus platinum-based chemotherapy (73.4%), followed by platinum-based chemotherapy only (16.5%). After ICI plus platinum-based chemotherapy, 29.6% of patients received non-platinum–based chemotherapy in 2L. Over half of patients did not receive 2L therapy (58.0%). Median rwToT, median rwTTNT, and median rwOS in 1L were 4.17 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.01, 4.27], 6.41 months (95% CI: 6.24, 6.54), and 9.99 months (95% CI: 9.69, 10.38), respectively. Corresponding outcomes in 2L were 2.23 months (95% CI: 2.14, 2.37), 3.61 months (95% CI: 3.35, 3.91), and 6.31 months (95% CI: 5.88, 6.87). Outcomes worsened with each subsequent line of therapy. Outcomes were generally comparable between de novo and progressive/recurrent ES-SCLC, although rwToT and rwTTNT in 1L were shorter for progressive/recurrent ES-SCLC. This study shows high utilization of ICI plus chemotherapy in 1L ES-SCLC, consistent with clinical guidelines. Despite this uptake, poor survival outcomes persisted, highlighting substantial unmet needs and the importance of developing novel treatment strategies and continuing to evaluate emerging therapies in real-world settings.

Introduction:
Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Advances have been made in the treatment landscape in the past decade, including integrating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with platinum-based chemotherapy in the first-line (1L) setting and the recent approval of T-cell engagers in subsequent lines. Despite these developments, efficacy remains limited, and therapeutic resistance emerges rapidly. This study aimed to evaluate treatment patterns and clinical…

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