Management of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, causing more deaths of men and women than any other cancer in the United States. Non-small-cell lung cancers account for most the newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer. Many patients with non-small-cell lung cancer present with advanced-stage disease and are not appropriate candidates for combined modality therapy. Although these patients have incurable disease, they have a chance of achieving improved 1-year survival rates and palliation of symptoms with chemotherapy. The performance status of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer is the most important determinant of response to chemotherapy.