Multimodality therapy in unresected stage III non-small cell lung cancer: the American Cooperative Groups' Experience

Since the mid-1980s, the American Cooperative Cancer Treatment Groups (Cancer and Leukemia Group B, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, North Central Cancer Treatment Group. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, Southwest Oncology Group) have performed several multimodality trials exploring combinations of chemotherapy and radiation in patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer. The initial trials had a sequential design with induction chemotherapy followed by radiation. Later trials have emphasized concurrent chemoradiation with or without induction chemotherapy. These trials have begun to have an impact on what is considered 'standard' therapy for patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).