People with small cell lung cancer in England and Wales will soon have access to a new treatment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved atezolizumab in combination with carboplatin and etoposide chemotherapy.
This treatment will be offered through the NHS for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who have not yet received therapy.
New Hope for Patients: treatment for people with small cell lung cancer
Clinical research shows strong results. Patients receiving atezolizumab with chemotherapy lived 5.2 months without progression, compared to 4.3 months with chemotherapy alone. They also lived longer overall. Researchers continue to study the long-term benefits.
For people facing this aggressive cancer, every extra month matters.
A Step Forward
Paula Chadwick, Chief Executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, welcomed the update:
“We’ve seen big advances in non-small cell lung cancer, but few for small cell. This decision brings real hope.
Small cell lung cancer is aggressive, so it’s encouraging to see new treatments helping patients live longer and spend more time with loved ones.”
Who It Helps
Extensive small cell lung cancer makes up about one in eight lung cancer cases in the UK. Around 2,400 people live with the disease, and about 1,200 are expected to benefit from this new treatment.
NICE plans to publish its final guidance on atezolizumab for ES-SCLC in June 2020.