[Radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer]

Radiotherapy is a major therapeutic option in non small-cell lung cancer. Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard treatment of locally advanced unresectable tumours. Current modalities of thoracic radiotherapy include three-dimensional conformal techniques, allowing dose escalation and combination with new generation cytotoxic drugs to occur. New techniques of radiotherapy are currently under development: respiratory gating and intensity-modulated techniques may allow a better focalisation of the ballistics; stereotactic radiotherapy and proton-beam radiotherapy, less available in Europe at the time, would be indicated in the exclusive treatment of early-stage tumours in non-operable patients.