[Stage III NSCLC. The role of the chemotherapist]

Standard treatment for non resectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer consists of concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy. There is no standard chemotherapy regimen, and several cisplatin-based doublets can be used. Induction and consolidation chemotherapy have been shown to yield no survival benefit. Although maintenance gefitinib has no interest after concurrent chemoradiotherapy, there is a rational for the delivery of targeted therapies in combination with radiotherapy. Other strategies integrating targeted treatments and radiotherapy warrant investigations.