title: Is stereotactic ablative radiotherapy an alternative to surgery in operable stage I non-small cell lung cancer?
abstract: Surgery is the gold therapeutic standard for patients affected with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy is currently considered the preferred treatment option for inoperable patients, representing approximately 25%. Limited data are available directly comparing surgery and SABR in operable patients, none of them prospective. Preliminary results are encouraging, showing that the two treatment modalities are equally effective in terms of tumour control, with expected similar survival projections. Moreover, in elderly patients SABR could represent a valid treatment alternative in comparison to surgery due to the lower morbidity. We here review and discuss the potential role of SABR as an alternative to surgery in operable early stage lung cancer patients.
authors: University of Torino, Department of Oncology, Radiation Oncology Unit, Torino, Italy.
authors: Andrea Riccardo
authors: AR
authors: Filippi
authors: Radiation Oncology Department - Tomotherapy Unit, Ospedale Regionale U. Parini, AUSL Valle d'Aosta, Aosta, Italy.
authors: Pierfrancesco
authors: P
authors: Franco
authors: University of Torino, Department of Oncology, Radiation Oncology Unit, Torino, Italy.
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Ricardi
keywords: Early stage lung cancer; Stereotactic radiotherapy; Thoracic surgery