The tyrosine kinase KIT has variable expression in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and may be a prognostic factor. Imatinib targets KIT expression, providing rationale for studying its role in combination with chemotherapy in SCLC in a multicenter phase II trial.
Irinotecan, carboplatin, and imatinib in untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: a phase II trial of the Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network.