Treatment in resectable, locally advanced NSCLC: which is the best approach?

Non-small-cell lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment for localized, resectable lung cancer, although advanced stages are associated with a high risk of developing distant metastases. Large randomized trials have demonstrated an improvement in survival with additional chemotherapy administered before or after surgical intervention. Several meta-analyses have shown improved survival for adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This review discusses the data on adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable non-small-cell lung cancer and focuses especially on the advantages and disadvantages of induction treatment of operable stage IIIA N2 diseases.