Polymorphisms in miRNA binding site: new insight into small cell lung cancer susceptibility

Lung cancer is a leading cause in cancer-related deaths with less than 15% five-year survival worldwide. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which accounts for about 15%–18% of lung cancer, carries the worst prognosis within the lung cancer patients. SCLC differs from other lung cancers, so called non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), in the specifically clinical and biologic characteristics. It exhibits aggressive behavior, with rapid growth, early spread to distant sites. Although exquisite sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation, SCLC recurs rapidly with only 5% of patients surviving five years and frequent association with distinct paraneoplastic syndromes[1].