Future directions in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related mortality for both men and women in North America. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 75% to 80% of all primary lung tumors. Although the survival rate for patients with NSCLC remains poor, recent advances in our knowledge of the pathophysiology and biology of lung cancer have paved the way for the development of new, more effective therapeutic interventions. This paper reviews the current status and future prospects for the management of NSCLC, including adjuvant therapy following surgical resection for stages I, II, and IIIA disease; induction chemotherapy for locally advanced stages IIIA and IIIB disease; chemotherapy for advanced stage IV disease; and biologic response modifiers, including interferons, interleukins, colony-stimulating factors, and monoclonal antibodies.