[Practice of perioperative chemotherapy for non small cell lung cancer]

Based on the studies published during the last 20 years, the surgery and chemotherapy combination has become a standard for patients with a stage II-IIIA operable non-small cell lung cancer. The survival advantage is better documented for adjuvant chemotherapy than for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. However, there are advantages for the preoperative delivery of chemotherapy, which should not be neglected. The results of ongoing studies should help to define the respective indications of pre- and post-operative chemotherapy in the future. The recently updated "Standards, Options, and Recommandations", published on behalf on the Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer, define the current practice of perioperative chemotherapy according to the evidence-based medicine.