Modern Radiotherapy as Part of Combined Modality Treatment in Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Present Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Learning Objectives: After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Employ the current standard of care for stage III NSCLC.Balance the relative merits and risks of IMRT in this disease and position its indication.Advocate the need for further research for improvement in this field. CME This article is available for continuing medical education credit at CME.TheOncologist.com Locally advanced stages account for approximately one third of the incident presentations of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Optimal treatment in selected patients consists of an integration of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Both modalities have seen numerous advances in the last decade. This article reviews the current status and outcome of treatment in stage III NSCLC, with special emphasis on the role of novel techniques in radiation treatment, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy. The obstacles for improving local control are identified and the technical progress that aims at removing these obstacles is addressed.