Induction or consolidation systemic therapy in the multimodality treatment of unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Chemoradiotherapy has been shown to improve survival over radiation alone for unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Large randomized trials comparing sequential to concomitant platinum based chemoradiotherapy have demonstrated improved median survival times in favor of concomitant treatment. Recent phase II trials have evaluated the integration of advanced radiotherapy techniques, novel chemotherapy combinations, induction chemotherapy, and consolidation chemotherapy with concomitant chemoradiotherapy. On-going or recently completed phase III trials are evaluating whether the promising regimens from phase II studies are superior to concomitant chemoradiotherapy alone. Molecular therapies now need to be integrated with chemoradiotherapy. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.