Cases

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

A 72 year-old male patient with severe dry cough for more than half a month was found to have large lumps, 12 cm and 4 cm in size, and smaller lumps located in the left rear of his neck. His whole neck swelled, which made it difficult for him to sleep. He was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer through biopsy of the left chest by a thoracic specialist. The symptoms of flush facial swelling and other related symptoms were caused by superior vena cava syndrome due to the compression on the great vein flowing back to the right aorta by two small lesions in the left lung and swollen lymph nodes located in mediastinum and neck.

The local small cell lung cancer with cervical lymph node metastasis was diagnosed by medical imaging and biopsy. The rapid growth of the cancer led his oncologists to believe that the patient could only survive for four months. By using cell transplantation and chemotherapy twice a week, he rapidly recovered from his upper vena cava syndrome. CT scan found that his tumors in the lung and mediastinum gradually decreased in size. Within three weeks, the 12 cm in diameter swollen lymph lump could no longer be detected. The swelling on his neck receded and the flush swelling on his face disappeared.

During his four month combined treatments of cell therapy, traditional systemic chemotherapy and local radiotherapy, the patient gradually returned to a healthy weight. It was a significant improvement from his drastic weight loss that he experienced with chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone. The common side effect of radiation therapy on the skin was alleviated and his discomfort while swallowing food had decreased.

This case demonstrated that the early use of progenitor cells and their factor groups (Paracrines) in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) can stop brain metastasis and improve immunity. The tumor marker CYFRA 21-1 in the patients’ lungs can decrease to their normal values within two and a half months after treatment. The general conditions of the patients, such as complexion, manifestation, mentality and weight, can improve significantly to normal values. The small cell lung cancer is a highly malignant, relatively uncommon, form of cancer, which is mostly caused by smoking.

In general, the small cell lung cancer accounts for 10% - 12% of all lung cancers. There are roughly two hundred thousand new cases in the United States each year.

The clinical classifications of small cell lung cancers are listed as the following:

1. Local small cell lung cancer:Such ones as contralateral supraclavicular lymph nodes and recurrent laryngeal nerve invaded by tumor as well as superior vena cava obstruction syndrome all belong to Local small cell lung cancer.

2. Diffusive small cell lung cancer: Malignant pericardial effusion, ipsilateral malignant pleural effusion and bilateral pulmonary parenchyma disorder is listed as Diffusive small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is among one of the cancers that are most sensitive to chemotherapy, with an effective response rate of a single drug treatment to be only 10-30%. However, the effective response only works for a short amount of time and seldom exceeds four months. This means for the many patients who relapse within one year after the first chemotherapy their second treatment is not as effective. The effective response rate of multiple chemotherapy is about 40%.

There are many paraneoplastic syndromes in small cell lung cancer. Sometimes the patient’s immune system can produce antibodies (Anti-Hu) that cross-compete with lung cancer cells and central nerve cells leading to brain and cerebellar degeneration syndrome. Small cell lung cancer also secretes other protein hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and vasopressin, which cause different tumor-associated and heterotopic hormone syndromes.

People who have been exposed to tobacco and other carcinogens for many years may suffer from mutation and stimulation of lung cells, which can cause small cell lung cancer. It is urgent for people to avoid exposure to these carcinogens.

The Committee of Human Health and Medical Specialists of the United Nations (CHMSUN) is pleased to learn that highly malignant small cell lung cancer can be treated with this new type of cell therapy in conjunction with traditional western medicine (such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy). The committee hopes that this new therapy for cancer can be adapted to other types of malignant tumor treatment and eventually cure related diseases. Thus, substantially improving or extending the life of such patients.