Therapeutic advances in non-small cell lung cancer. Issue 12 (5th November 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vallières, Eric; Peters, Solange; Van Houtte, Paul; Dalal, Paras; Lim, Eric
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 67:Issue 12(2012)
• Page Start: 1097
• Page End: 1101
• Publication Date: 2011-11-05
• Subjects: Mesothelioma -- non-small cell lung cancer -- small cell lung cancer -- thoracic surgery -- tobacco and the lung -- lung volume reduction surgery; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-201043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : Despite decades of research, therapeutic advances in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have progressed at a painstaking slow rate with few improvements in standard surgical resection for early stage disease and chemotherapy or radiotherapy for patients with advanced disease. In the past 18 months, however, we seemed to have reached an inflexion point: therapeutic advances that are centred on improvements in the understanding of patient selection, surgery that is undertaken through smaller incisions, identification of candidate mutations accompanied by the development of targeted anticancer treatments with a focus on personalised medicine, improvements to radiotherapy technology, emergence of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and last but by no means least, the recognition of palliative care as a therapeutic modality in its own right. The contributors to this review are a distinguished international panel of experts who highlight recent advances in each of the major disciplines.