Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer : Treatment Options

by National Cancer Institute

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There are different types of treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Different types of treatments are available for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. Before starting treatment, patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment.

Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country. Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care team.

Six types of standard treatment are used:

Surgery

Four types of surgery are used:

Wedge resection: Surgery to remove a triangle-shaped slice of tissue. Wedge resection is used to remove a tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it. When a slightly larger amount of tissue is taken, it is called a segmental resection.

Lobectomy: Surgery to remove a whole lobe (section) of the lung.

Pneumonectomy: Surgery to remove one whole lung.

Sleeve resection: Surgery to remove part of the bronchus.

Radiation therapy

Chemotherapy

Laser therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Watchful waiting

New types of treatment and prevention are being tested in clinical trials. These include the following:

Chemoprevention

Biologic therapy

New combinations

Treatment Options by Stage

Occult Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of occult non-small cell lung cancer depends on where the cancer has spread. It can usually be cured by surgery.

Stage 0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage 0 non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection or segmental resection).
• Photodynamic therapy using an endoscope.

Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, or lobectomy).
• External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of photodynamic therapy using an endoscope.
• A clinical trial of surgery followed by chemoprevention.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Stage II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage II non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (wedge resection, segmental resection, lobectomy, or pneumonectomy).
• External radiation therapy (for patients who cannot have surgery or choose not to have surgery).
• Surgery followed by chemotherapy, with or without other treatments.
• A clinical trial of external radiation therapy following surgery.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Stage IIIA and Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• External radiation therapy alone.
• Chemotherapy combined with other treatments.
• A clinical trial of new ways of giving radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

Treatment of stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• External radiation therapy alone.
• Chemotherapy combined with external radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy combined with external radiation therapy, followed by surgery.
• Chemotherapy alone.
• A clinical trial of new ways of giving radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of treatments.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• Watchful waiting.
• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Chemotherapy.
• Laser therapy and/or internal radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy with or without biologic therapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Treatment Options for Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Treatment of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy, to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Chemotherapy alone.
• Surgery (for some patients who have a very small amount of cancer that has spread to the brain).
• Laser therapy or internal radiation therapy.
• Radiosurgery (for certain patients who cannot have standard surgery).
• A clinical trial of biologic therapy or other new treatments.

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