Recent advances in managing non-small-cell lung cancer: 2. Surgery

Surgery can be curative in non-small-cell lung cancer, but has only a minor role in small-cell lung cancer. About two-thirds of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer present with advanced disease that cannot be treated surgically. Lymph node involvement alone does not indicate inoperable or incurable cancer. Lobectomy in patients with Stage I disease results in a five-year survival rate of 70%. Lobectomy or pneumonectomy with resection of involved nodes in patients with Stage II disease has a five-year survival rate of 40%-45%. Carefully selected patients with Stage IIIA disease may benefit from surgical treatment.