Combined chemotherapy and radiation in locally advanced NSCLC

The efficacy of radiotherapy in locally advanced NSCLC is low. This method does not provide effective eradication of bulky tumour in the thorax neither does it prevent uncontrolled systemic disease. The addition of chemotherapy to radiation has been expected to increase the cure rate by both, improving tumor control in the thorax and by eliminating or delaying the emergence of metastatic disease. The two most frequently tested strategies of combining chemotherapy and radiation include primary chemotherapy followed by radiation, and concurrent application of both methods. This article presents advantages of chemoradiation, its limitations in clinical practice and prospects for the future.