Current and future concepts of lung cancer

We discuss here some of the last decade's diagnostic and therapeutic advances in the treatment of lung cancer, as well as current and future research objectives. Roentgenographs from selected patients illustrate the natural history of lung cancer. We present perspectives concerning selection from the growing diagnostic armamentarium, with comments upon early detection and localization of "occult" cancers with the help of flexible bronchoscopy. Operative approaches have changed over the past 4 decades; we review how and why they evolved, including perspectives concerning mediastinoscopy. There is a presentation on a radiotherapeutic research approach to oat-cell cancers and the current status of immunotherapy. Such issues as animal models available for lung cancer research emerge in the general discussion, and it becomes clear that lung cancer merits a truly interdisciplinary approach in order to bring meaningful advances to the patient's bedside.