Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
Of the patients that undergo complete resection of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 30-60% will die. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy has yet to demonstrate an unequivocal benefit and there are significant difficulties in administering postoperative chemotherapy to patients with the significant comorbidities found in NSCLC. Currently, several trials are evaluating the role of preoperative chemotherapy in stage I and II NSCLC. This paper reviews the rationale for this approach and potential future developments.
University of Maryland, Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. medelman@umm.edu
M J
MJ
Edelman
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012008:Recurrence
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor