Development of treatment strategies in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (take home messages)

In the last decade combined modality treatment approaches contributed to th e progress of therapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. With this management strategies younger patients ( < 70 years) with locally adva nced disease and a good performance status (ECOG 0,I) have survival benefit s compared to sole locoregional treatment. Further development of these tre atment concepts is warranted. To adopt optimal tailored therapy to prognost ic consistent patient groups exact staging of disease is mandatory. Moreove r, refinements of the staging system would be helpful to identify in define d anatomical stages patient subgroups, who will benefit from systemic treat ment options different from chemotherapy (i.e. tyrosine kinase-inhibition o f the epidermal growth factor receptor family, anti-angiogenic treatment). The current status of developing treatment strategies in locally advanced n on-small cell lung cancer is discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland L td. All rights reserved.