Adjuvant therapy in completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer

Giorgio V. Scagliotti1 and Silvia Novello1

(1) Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Hospital, Thoracic Oncology Unit, Regione Gonzole, 10, 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy


Abstract Less than 20% to 25% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with stage I or II disease and are best treated by surgical resection. Long-term survival in early NSCLC remains poor. The 5-year survival rate of patients who undergo complete surgical resection is only 40% to 50%. The majority of relapses after surgery are distant metastases; the risk of a local recurrence after complete resection is less than 10%. Postoperative treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both modalities together, have been evaluated widely, but unfortunately none of these treatments have demonstrated any significant impact on survival. Data regarding large-scale adjuvant chemotherapy trials that were closed for accrual almost 4 to 5 years ago will be fully available before the end of the year. It is hoped that a specific meta-analysis will be performed on the basis of these data.