Chemoradiation therapy in nonsmall cell lung cancer

The majority of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with locally advanced mediastinal disease. Radiation therapy is the backbone, and nowadays a combination with chemotherapy is considered standard treatment. In this review we present a short history of the developments in this field with an update of all new developments. We address the questions how to optimally combine chemotherapy, targeted agents and radiation therapy.

The results from recently published papers dealing with combined chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and the data of two meta-analyses are reviewed. Some drugs are very suitable candidates for CRT such as cisplatin, pemetrexed and etoposide, whereas others should be avoided or used with caution (adriamycin, gemcitabine).

Our evaluation indicates that there are quite a number of positive developments in the treatment of locally advanced NSCLC but there is still much to improve. Variables such as patient condition, tumor biology, dose of radiation therapy, method of application (intensity modulated radiation therapy, four-dimensional planning) and dose of chemotherapy all influence treatment outcome and should be taken into account in designing the best treatment. Well-defined studies should be undertaken balancing the possible positive effect of therapy and toxicity.