Treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

The treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC; including squamous, large-cell anaplastic, and adenocarcinoma) is one of the most frustrating areas in oncology. With the exception of the high cure rates for surgical treatment of truly localized disease, the prognosis for patients with NSCLC is grim. Often rancorous debate has ensued about the best means of exploiting the currently available modalities of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Recognizing that the effectiveness of the current therapeutic modalities is limited, we will review the treatment results from the past few years that help define where specific treatment options should be used or suggest areas in which to focus future trials. We will also review the implications of current findings in the cell biology of lung cancer as they pertain to the therapy of NSCLC.