Lenalidomide as potential treatment in small cell neuroendocrine lung cancer with del 5q

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths world-wide, with the carcinogens in tobacco smoke playing a major etiologic role. Genetic changes responsible for carcinogenesis include activation of proto-oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Tumor suppressor gene inactivation is contributed to, in part, by loss of chromosomal DNA. While cytogenetic findings in small cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma are complex, 5q deletion is among the most frequently identified [1,2].