[Chemotherapy for metastased non-small cell lung cancer]

Only a select group of patients with metastased non-small cell lung cancer are eligible for treatment with chemotherapy. The standard treatment for patients with a good performance score, and possibly also for those with physical limitations as a consequence of the disease, is chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin or carboplatin in combination with a third-generation cytotoxic agent together with maximum supportive care. The optimal duration of this chemotherapy treatment is at least 3 to 4 cures, less in the case of disease progression. For older patients (> 70 years) with a good performance score, chemotherapy with maximum supportive care is the standard treatment. However, which form of chemotherapy should be given is not yet clear. Symptomatic improvement is important for improving the quality of life. For patients with tumour relapse or disease progression after first-line chemotherapy who still have a good performance score, the standard treatment is once again chemotherapy with maximum supportive care, as this improves the chance of survival and quality of life, and is possibly cost effective.