NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY FOR RESECTABLE NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER

Surgical therapy remains the only curative treatment of localized non- small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Yet, the results of surgical therap y leave much to be desired. Recently, neoadjuvant chemotherapy for Sta ge III NSCLC had become an accepted therapeutic modality. Accordingly, a question is raised regarding the feasibility of neoadjuvant chemoth erapy in resectable NSCLC (Stage I and II). In this paper we report th ree patients, in chronological order, with localized NSCLC who were tr eated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was give n to the first case with poor pulmonary functions. Decrease in size of the tumor made it possible for him to undergo a more conservative lun g resection. In the second case, chemotherapy was given with a presump tive diagnosis of metastatic lung lesion. A good response was noted an d, histologically, it was a primary lung cancer. In the third case, ch emotherapy was given to a patient with obviously resectable lung carci noma, and an excellent response was observed. According to the results , neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable NSCLC may be feasible and be neficial.