The role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for curative management of medically inoperable and stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer, and radiotherapy for palliation of symptomatic disease.
Radiotherapy has an expanding role in all phases of treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer. Evolutions in technique, such as three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, hold the promise for more effective treatment of patients with early stage disease who are not candidates for surgical intervention. Multimodality therapy for patients with locally advanced disease is evolving rapidly, with evidence accruing as to the optimal schedules and doses of radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy. Palliative dose schedules are being refined that maximize patient comfort while providing substantial symptom relief.
Turrisi
Andrew T
AT
Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, P.O. Box 250318, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. turrisi@radonc.musc.edu
Bogart
Jeffrey
J
Sherman
Carol
C
Silvestri
Gerard
G
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care