Clinical trials of peripheral stage I (T1N0M0) non-small cell lung cancer

Debate continues regarding the choice of resection for peripheral stage I (T1N0M0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Anatomic lobectomy has been considered the standard of care for resectable NSCLC; however, intriguing results of clinical trials have been reported with the use of sublobar resection as primary therapy of selected small peripheral lung cancers. Most modern clinical studies comparing lobectomy to sublobar resection of stage I NSCLC demonstrate equivalent survival, but local recurrence following sublobar resection appears to be greater. Low energy computed tomography screening programs for lung cancer have increasingly identified small peripheral lesions potentially amenable to effective therapeutic management with sublobar resection. We discuss the possible management scenarios for stage I NSCLC in this age of early computed tomography detection of lung cancer, more precise molecular biologic staging of the disease, optimized peri-operative management of the marginally resectable patient, and improved adjunctive treatment measures for local control following lung cancer resection.