The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in marginally resectable or unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer

The study was undertaken to test whether marginally resectable or unresectable stage IIIa-IIIb non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients could reach complete resectability after induction chemotherapy. Fifty six patients were included into the study and treated either by vinorelbine 35 mg/m(2) day 1 and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) day 1 (n=28) or by vinorelbine 30 mg/ m(2) day 1 and 8 and cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) day 1 (n=28). Cycles were repeated every 21 days. At the completion of induction therapy patients assessed to be resectable underwent thoracotomy. Radiation therapy was applicated in nonresected cases. The minimal follow up was 24 months. 32% of patients with marginally resectable or unresectable stage IIIa-IIIb NSCLC could reach a complete resectability after induction chemotherapy. Survival of patients stage IIIa was comparable to stage IIIb. Responders and resected patients survived significantly longer comparing to the patients with stable disease and progression, respectively to the incompletely resected plus nonresected patients. Perioperative complications were rare and there were no treatment-related deaths in our study. The main surgery-related complication was late bronchopleural fistula.