Induction therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Twenty seven cases of locally advanced NSCLC resected after induction chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. Regimen of the preoperative chemotherapy included cisplatin in 23 cases (85%). The clinical stages were 6 in IIIA, 16 in IIIB, and 5 in IV. Overall survival for 27 patients was 70.4% at 1 year and 36.1% at 5 years with a median survival of 12 months. Treatment-related death was observed in 3 cases (11.1%). Considering most of this series of patients did not have indications for operation without preoperative chemotherapy, induction therapy seems to improve both resectability and prognosis of selected patients with locally advanced NSCLC. However, prospective randomized trials should be needed to confirm the survival benefit of induction therapy.