Large cell lung carcinoma is a common type of lung cancer that may spread rapidly. An early diagnosis can help improve treatment outcomes.

There are many forms of lung cancer, but each has its own characteristics.

Large cell lung carcinoma (LCLC) is one form of non-small cell lung cancer that tends to grow more quickly and spread more aggressively than some other forms.

LCLC is a catch-all diagnosis for large cell lung cancers that can’t be classified into other specific subgroups.

In this article, learn about the differences between small and large cell carcinomas in the lung, how LCLC is diagnosed and treated, and what to expect if you receive this diagnosis.

LCLC is a type of cancer that affects the lungs. It can form anywhere in the lung but is more common on the outer edges.

Non-small cell carcinomas, like LCLC, are the most common form of lung cancer, making up 80% to 85% of all lung cancers.

There are three major types of non-small cell carcinomas:

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer and is classified as a non-small cell lung cancer. It usually begins in the outer sections of the lung. It’s the type of lung cancer most often found in nonsmokers.

Adenocarcinoma makes up about 40% of all non-small cell lung cancers.

Large cell carcinoma

This type of lung cancer is named so because of its large, abnormal-looking cells. These cells can be found throughout the lungs. They also tend to grow more quickly and spread faster than other forms of non-small cell lung cancers.

LCLC makes up 10% to 15% of all non-small cell lung cancers.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is another large cell carcinoma that is sometimes referred to as epidermoid carcinoma. This type of non-small cell lung cancer usually begins in the middle structures of the lung, like the bronchi. Squamous cell carcinomas make up about one-quarter of all non-small cell lung cancers.

Other forms of lung cancer

Outside of LCLC, there are several other forms of lung cancer. These include:

Despite their unique qualities, LCLCs and other forms of non-small cell lung cancers share the same symptoms, which may include:

Many cancer symptoms are fairly vague. A cough, wheezing, or loss of appetite can appear with many conditions. This is why many cases of lung cancer aren’t detected in the early stages. This can delay diagnosis and mean that cancers aren’t detected until they’re already at a later stage.

Seek emergency care if you experience the following symptoms:

  • coughing up blood
  • severe shortness of breath or trouble breathing
  • chest pain
  • difficulty swallowing
  • face or neck swelling

These symptoms can lead to medical emergencies and affect your ability to breathe. They require immediate medical assessment and treatment.

Ideally, non-small cell lung cancers are diagnosed in the early stages, when there are more and better treatment options.

However, since many symptoms are common to other conditions, often a diagnosis isn’t made until the later stages of non-small cell lung cancer.

If you’re at high risk of developing lung cancer, such as if you smoke or work around airborne chemicals, annual screenings can help your doctor make a diagnosis early.

You can take this free quiz from the American Lung Association to see whether you’re at high risk.

Annual screenings are done through imaging technologies like low dose CT scans. They are recommended for people at high risk between 55 and 80 years old. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of the scan.

If you’re not in a high risk group, your doctor will ask you about your medical history, lifestyle, and family history. They will also perform a physical exam and may order a chest X-ray or CT scan if they suspect lung cancer.

Your doctor may also choose to test fluids or cells from your lungs more directly by performing a biopsy. This can be done using a number of procedures, such as:

A biopsy can help your doctor examine the specific biomarkers of the cancer to target treatment and to better understand the stage. Biomarkers can help doctors determine which treatment is best for the type of cancer you have.

Many things can cause lung cancer, but smoking is by far the greatest risk factor.

Roughly 80% of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking, reports the American Cancer Society.

Other risk factors include:

  • radon exposure
  • exposure to irritants or pollutants in the workplace
  • living in an area with high levels of air pollution
  • family or genetic history
  • exposure to asbestos
  • a history of radiation therapy

Here are some of the main types of treatment for non-small cell lung cancers like LCLC.

Surgery

Surgery may be one of the first treatment steps if cancer is detected early and hasn’t spread. Your doctor may be able to remove the tumor or, if the cancer is more widespread, entire sections or lobes of the lung.

Radiation therapy

When tumors have grown too large to remove, or when trying to avoid removing large sections of lung, radiation therapy may be used to try and control cancer growth.

With this treatment, radiation waves are directed at the area to kill existing cancer cells and prevent new ones from forming.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of a number of medications that kill fast-growing cells like cancer. It can affect other cells that grow fast, too, like skin and hair.

There are many types of chemotherapy. Your doctor or care team may recommend trying more than one. Depending on which therapy is chosen, chemotherapy may be given as an implant, orally, or intravenously.

You may receive chemotherapy alone or with radiation therapy.

Targeted therapy

With some cancers, like those caused by genetic mutations, special medications that target cancer cells but spare healthy cells may be used. These medications typically don’t cure cancer but control growth and spread.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a growing area of medicine. In this therapy, your immune system is programmed to fight a variety of conditions.

Several immunotherapy medications are currently being used in the United States to treat lung cancer.

Some cancers are slow-growing and unlikely to spread. LCLC, however, tends to be more aggressive and can spread quickly.

Early diagnosis is key to a good outlook.

Overall, according to figures from the National Cancer Institute, about a quarter of the people with some form of non-small cell lung cancer live for at least 5 years after their diagnosis, up from about 16% in the 1970s.

One 2020 study using data from 2004 to 2015 reports an overall 5-year survival rate of 19% for LCLC.

People with LCLC tend to be on the lower end of that survival spectrum, especially with certain types of this cancer. For example, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, a rare type of LCLC, has a median survival rate of about 6 months after diagnosis.

Many individual factors, as well as diagnosis and treatment, all play a role in your prognosis with LCLC. Survival rates are improving with advanced treatments.

Coping with a lung cancer diagnosis is another element of the disease. Make sure you’re comfortable with the doctor and treatment plan, and explore all options available to you.

Your doctor may also be able to direct you to local resources or support groups to help you process everything that comes along with this condition.

Symptoms of lung cancer may develop without notice for some time, making diagnosis more difficult.

Talk with a doctor to find out whether you meet the criteria for annual lung cancer screenings, especially if you are or were a heavy smoker. Annual screenings may help detect lung cancer early, improving the chances of a positive outcome.

Survival rates for all forms of lung cancer are increasing due to new medications and treatments.