Treatment Selection and Monitoring/Maintenance in Patients With SCLC

Following initial response to chemo-immunotherapy, clinicians must decide on maintenance strategies to sustain disease control. Panelists discuss how treatment selection is influenced by performance status, organ function, and patient preferences. The goal is to prolong remission without compromising quality of life.

Maintenance therapy requires ongoing assessment through imaging and laboratory monitoring. The discussion highlights variability in treatment duration and frequency, reflecting differences in trial design and institutional practice. Clinicians must also recognize when to stop or modify therapy due to progression or toxicity.

Effective maintenance management involves balancing long-term benefits against cumulative risks. The segment concludes that patient-centered monitoring and proactive toxicity mitigation are key to achieving durable outcomes in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.