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ObjectivesSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a lethal histologic subtype of lung cancer. Although the Commission on Cancer recommends pathological examination of at least 10 lymph nodes dissected (LNDs) for resected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, its survival benefit of LNDs in patients with early-stage SCLC is unknown.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was queried for SCLC patients with clinical stage I-II and clinical N0, NX disease per AJCC 7th edition who had undergone lobectomy between 2004 and 2017. Overall survival of SCLC patients by the number of LNDs was compared using Log-rank tests. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed.ResultsIn total, 688 (42%), 311 (20%), 247 (16%), 196 (12%), 126 (8%), and 36 (2%) of 1,584 patients with early-stage SCLC had ≥10, 7-9, 5-6, 3-4, 1-2, and 0 LNDs, respectively. The sequential improvement in the HRs was no longer evident if the number of LNDs exceeds 4. Patients with ≥3 LNDs (n = 1,422) had a significantly longer overall survival than those with

Recent application of immunotherapy in clinical oncology revolutionized our management of advanced human cancers. Check point inhibitors targeting CTLA4 and PD-1/PD-L1 axis are immunotherapeutic agents currently available to treat a variety of cancers. However, a novel therapeutic approach is needed to further improve patient outcome with these agents. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism of essential amino acid tryptophan in the peripheral tissue. IDO1 is overexpressed in human cancer cells and suppresses effector T cell function and promotes regulatory T cells (Tregs). Overexpression of IDO1 is associated with poor patient survival in several types of human cancer. These findings indicate that IDO1 is a promising target that can improve the treatment outcome in the field of Immuno-oncology. Several orally available IDO1 inhibitors including Epacadostat have entered human clinical trials over the last few years without a major safety concern. Although there is no objective response in single-agent trials, combination regimens with PD-1 inhibitors appear to exceed the activity of PD-1 inhibitors alone. Recent phase III ECHO 301 trial testing the combination of Epacadostat with Pembrolizumab in melanoma did not show superior outcome compared to Pembrolizumab alone. This lead to halting of other phase III trials using IDO1 inhibitors. In this minireview, we will discuss the recent clinical development of Epacadostat and other IDO1 inhibitors.