What is small cell lung cancer (SCLC)?

About 1 in 3 people in the US will get cancer in their lifetime

Illustration of a woman in an apron holding a box of flowers.

Cancer happens when some cells in the body grow too fast and take over space from healthy cells. It can start anywhere in the body. When it starts in the lungs, it may be SCLC.

SCLC is one type of cancer. It’s relatively uncommon but can grow and spread quickly. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed, you are not alone. While it may feel overwhelming at times, learning about it can help.

SCLC is a fast-growing cancer that appears under a microscope as small, oval-shaped cells that resemble oats.

Illustration of two men walking with a child holding a balloon.

SCLC is a serious condition. It tends to grow and spread quickly. It also tends to come back for most people (recurrence). However, there are treatments available.

If initial therapy helped, continuing with maintenance therapy may be next

Learn more

Chemotherapy didn't help or is no longer working?

Learn more

What is ZEPZELCA (lurbinectedin) for injection 4 mg?

ZEPZELCA may be used to treat adults with a kind of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC):

ZEPZELCA may be used in combination with atezolizumab or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs as maintenance treatment when your lung cancer:
- is a type called “extensive-stage,” which means it has spread or grown, and
- has not progressed after first treatment with atezolizumab or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs and the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide.
ZEPZELCA may be used when your lung cancer:
- has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and
- you have received treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working.
ZEPZELCA is approved based on response rate and how long the response lasted. Additional studies will further evaluate the benefit of ZEPZELCA for this use.

It is not known if ZEPZELCA is safe and effective in children.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, and discuss with your doctor.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Before receiving ZEPZELCA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have liver or kidney problems.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ZEPZELCA can harm your unborn baby.
Females who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with ZEPZELCA.
- You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with and for 6 months after your last dose of ZEPZELCA.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you are pregnant during treatment with ZEPZELCA.
Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with and for 4 months after your last dose of ZEPZELCA.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZEPZELCA passes into your breastmilk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with ZEPZELCA and for 2 weeks after your last dose of ZEPZELCA. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Certain other medicines may affect how ZEPZELCA works.

What should I avoid while using ZEPZELCA?

Avoid eating or drinking grapefruit, Seville oranges, or products that contain grapefruit juice and Seville oranges during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

ZEPZELCA can cause serious side effects, including:

Low blood cell counts. Low blood counts including low neutrophil counts (neutropenia) and low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) are common with ZEPZELCA, and can also be severe. Some people with low white blood cell counts may get fever, or an infection throughout the body (sepsis), that can cause death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before you receive each treatment with ZEPZELCA to check your blood cell counts.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop:
- fever or any other signs of infection
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- tiredness
- pale colored skin

Liver problems. Increased liver function tests are common with ZEPZELCA and can also be severe. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your liver function before you start and during treatment with ZEPZELCA.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop symptoms of liver problems including:
- loss of appetite
- nausea or vomiting
- pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)

Skin damage at or near the infusion site. ZEPZELCA can cause damage and death of tissue cells if it leaks into the tissues around your infusion site. You may need to have surgery to remove any dead tissue. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you see any fluid leaking at or around the catheter during your infusion, or if you notice any redness, swelling, itching or discomfort at the infusion site at any time.

Severe muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis). Treatment with ZEPZELCA may increase the level of an enzyme in your blood called creatine phosphokinase (CPK). Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your CPK levels before you start and during treatment with ZEPZELCA. Tell your healthcare provider if you have severe muscle pain or weakness.

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop treatment, lower your dose, or permanently stop ZEPZELCA if you develop serious side effects during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

The most common side effects of ZEPZELCA given alone include:

tiredness
low level of albumin in the blood
low white and red blood cell counts
constipation
increased kidney function blood test (creatinine)
trouble breathing
increased liver function blood tests
low levels of sodium and magnesium in the blood
increased blood sugar (glucose)
vomiting
nausea
cough
decreased appetite
diarrhea
muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) pain

tiredness
low white and red blood cell counts
increased kidney function blood test (creatinine)
increased liver function blood tests
increased blood sugar (glucose)
nausea
decreased appetite
muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) pain
low level of albumin in the blood
constipation
trouble breathing
low levels of sodium and magnesium in the blood
vomiting
cough
diarrhea

The most common side effects of ZEPZELCA given with atezolizumab include:

low white and red blood cell counts
nausea
tiredness or weakness

These are not all of the possible side effects of ZEPZELCA.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report suspected side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Jazz Pharmaceuticals at 1-800-520-5568.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, and discuss with your doctor.

What is ZEPZELCA (lurbinectedin) for injection 4 mg?

ZEPZELCA may be used to treat adults with a kind of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC):

ZEPZELCA may be used in combination with atezolizumab or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs as maintenance treatment when your lung cancer:
- is a type called “extensive-stage,” which means it has spread or grown, and
- has not progressed after first treatment with atezolizumab or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs and the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide.
ZEPZELCA may be used when your lung cancer:
- has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and
- you have received treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working.
ZEPZELCA is approved based on response rate and how long the response lasted. Additional studies will further evaluate the benefit of ZEPZELCA for this use.

It is not known if ZEPZELCA is safe and effective in children.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, and discuss with your doctor.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Before receiving ZEPZELCA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have liver or kidney problems.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ZEPZELCA can harm your unborn baby.
Females who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with ZEPZELCA.
- You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with and for 6 months after your last dose of ZEPZELCA.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you are pregnant during treatment with ZEPZELCA.
Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with and for 4 months after your last dose of ZEPZELCA.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZEPZELCA passes into your breastmilk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with ZEPZELCA and for 2 weeks after your last dose of ZEPZELCA. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

What should I avoid while using ZEPZELCA?

Avoid eating or drinking grapefruit, Seville oranges, or products that contain grapefruit juice and Seville oranges during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

ZEPZELCA can cause serious side effects, including:

Low blood cell counts. Low blood counts including low neutrophil counts (neutropenia) and low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) are common with ZEPZELCA, and can also be severe. Some people with low white blood cell counts may get fever, or an infection throughout the body (sepsis), that can cause death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before you receive each treatment with ZEPZELCA to check your blood cell counts.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop:
- fever or any other signs of infection
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- tiredness
- pale colored skin

Liver problems. Increased liver function tests are common with ZEPZELCA and can also be severe. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your liver function before you start and during treatment with ZEPZELCA.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop symptoms of liver problems including:
- loss of appetite
- nausea or vomiting
- pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)

Skin damage at or near the infusion site. ZEPZELCA can cause damage and death of tissue cells if it leaks into the tissues around your infusion site. You may need to have surgery to remove any dead tissue. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you see any fluid leaking at or around the catheter during your infusion, or if you notice any redness, swelling, itching or discomfort at the infusion site at any time.

Severe muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis). Treatment with ZEPZELCA may increase the level of an enzyme in your blood called creatine phosphokinase (CPK). Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your CPK levels before you start and during treatment with ZEPZELCA. Tell your healthcare provider if you have severe muscle pain or weakness.

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop treatment, lower your dose, or permanently stop ZEPZELCA if you develop serious side effects during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

The most common side effects of ZEPZELCA given alone include:

tiredness
low level of albumin in the blood
low white and red blood cell counts
constipation
increased kidney function blood test (creatinine)
trouble breathing
increased liver function blood tests
low levels of sodium and magnesium in the blood
increased blood sugar (glucose)
vomiting
nausea
cough
decreased appetite
diarrhea
muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) pain

tiredness
low white and red blood cell counts
increased kidney function blood test (creatinine)
increased liver function blood tests
increased blood sugar (glucose)
nausea
decreased appetite
muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) pain
low level of albumin in the blood
constipation
trouble breathing
low levels of sodium and magnesium in the blood
vomiting
cough
diarrhea

The most common side effects of ZEPZELCA given with atezolizumab include:

low white and red blood cell counts
nausea
tiredness or weakness

These are not all of the possible side effects of ZEPZELCA.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, and discuss with your doctor.