Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer‑associated mortality in men and women worldwide. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a subtype that constitutes ~15% of all lung cancer cases. Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs), possessing no or limited protein‑coding ability, have gained extensive attention as a potentially promising avenue by which to investigate the biological regulation of human cancer. lncRNAs can modulate gene expression at the transcriptional, post‑transcriptional and epigenetic levels. The current review highlights the developing clinical implications and functional roles of lncRNAs in SCLC, and provides directions for their future utilization in the diagnosis and treatment of SCLC.