Title:Integrated Therapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
Author(s): Massimo Di Maio, Raffaele Costanzo, Pasqualina Giordano, Maria Carmela Piccirillo, Claudia Sandomenico, Agnese Montanino, Guido Carillio, Paolo Muto, David R. Jones, Gennaro Daniele, Francesco Perrone, Gaetano Rocco and Alessandro Morabito
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Locally advanced NSCLC, multidisciplinary approach, combined treatment, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery.
Abstract: Treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a significant challenge for oncologists, despite
progress made in recent years in early diagnosis and therapy. This review focuses on integrated therapeutic approaches of patients with
locally advanced NSCLC, summarizing the available evidence for patients with potentially resectable disease (stage IIIA-0/3) and with
unresectable disease (stage IIIA-4/IIIB) and discussing several key questions related to the use of integrated approaches in NSCLC.
Based on current evidence, neoadjuvant platinum-based combination chemotherapy is a treatment option in patients with potentially
resectable stage IIIA-0/3: a 2-drug combination of platinum combined with a third-generation drug seems preferable, and at least 3 cycles
of chemotherapy should be administered. There are no definitive evidences of clear superiority of surgery compared to radiotherapy for
patients obtaining a response with neoadjuvant treatment: however, surgery is associated with a better local control, and subgroup
analyses of randomized trials suggest improved outcome in patients in whom a complete resection could be obtained with a lobectomy,
avoiding the increased surgical mortality associated with pneumonectomy. Standard treatment for patients with locally advanced,
unresectable NSCLC is currently represented by combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Concomitant approach has been proven
superior to the sequential administration, although it is associated with higher risk of toxicity. All patients should be evaluated by a
multidisciplinary team, skilled in multimodality treatment and should be counselled about risks and potential benefits of the different
therapeutic approaches.
