Combined-modality treatment for stage IIIa (N2) non-small cell lung cancer: a National Cancer Institute Intergroup study

Induction chemotherapy plus radiotherapy followed by surgery, evaluated in a number of phase II studies, is an effective treatment for patients with stage III A non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The ongoing phase III National Cancer Institute Intergroup study is evaluating concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin + etoposide)/radiotherapy followed by either surgery or additional radiotherapy followed by 2 additional cycles of chemotherapy in patients with stage IIIA disease. This study will help define the role of surgery and radiotherapy as part of the multimodality therapy of locoregional advanced NSCLC.