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An estimated 1.6 million new lung cancers are diagnosed worldwide each year. The highest incidence rates in males are observed in Central/Eastern and Southern Europe (57 and 49 per 100 000, respectively), whereas in women the highest rates are found in Northern Europe (36 per 100 000)[1]. Five-year survival rates of lung cancer patients have only slightly improved during the past decade but remain low at 10%[2].

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) originates from neuroendocrine-cell precursors and is characterised by its rapid growth, its high response rates to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy and development of treatment resistance in patients with metastatic disease. In the Western world, the proportion of patients with SCLC has decreased to 13%[3]. Virtually all patients have a history of tobacco use. Therefore, smoking habits are closely linked to incidence, which varies across different populations. In …