Chemotherapy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer

For patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing surgery, both induction and adjuvant chemotherapy improve survival and curability. Induction chemotherapy is also feasible for patients with early stage NSCLC. Randomized trials of induction treatment for early stage NSCLC, as well as induction and adjuvant treatment for Stage IIIA patients, are in progress. These trials should build on current successes, and add new approaches such as targeted therapies and vaccines, in an attempt to prevent metastases, recurrence, and second primary malignancies.