Non-small cell lung cancer: meta-analysis of efficacy of chemotherapy

The recent meta-analysis of 52 trials evaluating outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with various modalities is discussed. From these data, three priorities can be proposed: (1) lung cancer physicians should alter their practices to include cisplatin-containing combination chemotherapy in their management protocols, (2) many more patients with lung cancer should be entered into clinical trials, and (3) the reporting of trial data, both response and toxicity data and quality of life assessments, needs to be improved. In addition, the poor outcome of non-small cell lung cancer patients, even those with the smallest volume of disease at the time of diagnosis, emphasizes the need for application of more aggressive treatments at the earliest possible stage of disease and the need for continued new drug development.