Pathologie, Molekularpathologie und künstliche Intelligenz beim kleinzelligen Lungenkarzinom

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the lung with a poor prognosis. The role of pathology is to provide histopathological diagnosis. The regimen of systemic therapy has hardly changed in recent decades, and personalized therapy has not been possible so far, in contrast to the situation with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, current research findings provide insights into the underlying biology and give hope for innovations in the near future.

The aim of the study is to provide a critical evaluation of current research findings regarding their potential applications in histo- and molecular pathological diagnostics and to analyze the resulting implications for clinical practice.

A review of current guidelines regarding recommendations for the pathological diagnosis of SCLC was conducted, as was a selective literature search for new findings, focusing on comprehensive molecular analyses and the application of artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods.

Currently, the key role of pathology in the context of SCLC continues to be in the establishment of a histopathological diagnosis with special consideration of differential diagnoses, and this situation will persist in the near future. Current results from basic research have led to a better understanding of tumor biology; however, there are no immediate consequences for routinely used molecular pathological analyses. The data on application of AI-based methods is currently limited, and research in the coming years will be crucial.