Current treatment recommendations for stage III non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Nearly one third of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with stage III disease. In general, these patients have a dismal prognosis. However, several studies discussed in this review suggest that aggressive therapy in appropriately selected patients can improve outcomes. These studies can be difficult to interpret, not only because of the diversity of patient populations studied, but also because of the variability in eligibility criteria, pretreatment staging techniques, and induction regimens used. Nonetheless, sound treatment recommendations can be made based on the available literature. Ongoing research is likely to clarify further the best combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and novel biologic agents to optimize treatment for this heterogeneous population. This review will focus primarily on the influential prospective randomized trials, which have shaped current treatment practices for stage III NSCLC.